Premier League Primary Stars

PREMIER League Primary Stars uses the appeal of the Premier League and professional football clubs to inspire children to learn, be active and develop important life skills.

Available to every primary school in England and Wales, it inspires girls and boys aged 5-11 in the classroom, the playground and on the sports field. Teaching materials cover subjects from English and Maths to teamwork and PE, with free to download activity ideas, worksheets, lesson plans, fun assemblies and exclusive videos.

There are further extra special opportunities for schools that register, such as a visit from the the Premier League Trophy for a day.

Archibald’s Primary School in Middlesbrough is one such winner from this draw, and the event was supported by our very own Roary the mascot, who was challenged to games of Table Tennis.

Adding value to this programme is the contribution that Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation makes by offering local schools the opportunity to draft in professional coaching from our team of experts who work with teachers to deliver fun, educational PE & Sport sessions.

A squad of highly qualified and motivated coaches with many years’ experience of working in primary schools with all ages of children including those with special needs.

The programme provided by the Foundation also allows partner schools to enter local football competitions with the opportunity to progress to national events organised by the Premier League. The Foundation has a direct connection with Middlesbrough Football Club’s Academy and scouts regularly attend football tournaments to identify new and progressive talented young people, and local events are regularly held at the prestigious training ground where it is possible to meet the first team players.

Our emphasis is very much on quality rather than quantity and our competitively priced programmes aim to educate and enthuse both pupils and staff. These are the moments children will cherish throughout their school life and as our programmes are linked to curriculum studies, we find that children’s ability to learn increases as they become more confident.

All schools that sign up to the Primary Stars website will receive a free values incentive pack with stickers and certificates to reward positive behaviour and achievements. For those who wish to enhance their offer through a programme that teaches children to work hard and never give up on their goals, give us a call or email for a free appraisal of your current and future needs and to see how we can assist.

Contact Natalie Guy on 01642 282128 or via email on natalie.guy@mfcfoundation.co.uk

A packed Legends Lounge celebrated another year of service to the communities of Teesside at the MFC Foundation dinner.

Sponsored by Vistech and hosted by Gary Philipson, the inspirational evening mixed fun with hard-hitting stories of our work throughout the area, captured in words and pictures in the programme for the event which once more was kindly sponsored by Middlesbrough College.

Head of Foundation Lynsey Edwards spoke of her pride in the work of her team, Vistech’s Paul Heeran outlined why he was so keen to sponsor the dinner for a third successive year and guest speaker Richard Kilty movingly outlined his own journey which could so easily have gone down another route, not one which took him to the Olympic Games and become the European indoor sprint champion.

Two awards were presented. The Foundation Programme of the Year went to Roary’s Academy. For the little ones, this is a football development school for children aged between two and six aiming to build self-esteem and confidence while developing fine and gross motor skills.

There were joint runners-up in this category, Football Welcomes, a programme for refugees and asylum seekers who have fled oppression and war in their own country. Many participants have gone on to work for the Foundation, keen to give back to a welcoming community.

The other joint runner-up was Think With Your Feet. A football-led programme that brings together people who have been affected by mental illness.

It was a participant from that programme who was named Participant of the Year. Darren ‘Frankie’ Renshaw has overcome significant personal challenges to now be in a position to help others. Clearly emotional, Frankie probably received the loudest applause of the night when, well out of his comfort zone, he went up to receive his prize.

Award-winning photographer Tom Banks captured the essence of it all on an evening where there was a greater appreciation of our work and vital funds were raised for the Foundation through auctions and a raffle. Have a look through the extensive gallery below to see if you feature on an evening which was rounded off in style with a set from local band Flat Back 4.

Thank you to everyone who played some part in making this a very rewarding and very successful event, especially the catering and service staff from the club who were, as ever, on top form.

For a bigger version, click on each image.