Premier League Primary Stars Lee Stephenson Cup 2025

Teams representing eight primary schools from the Tees Valley contested this year’s Lee Stephenson Cup.

Delivered as part of the Foundation’s Premier League Primary Stars programme, the tournament was held at Boro’s Rockliffe Park training ground on a warm day towards the end of April.

Grangetown, Kader, Marton Manor, Park End, Priors Mills, St. Patrick’s, Whale Hill and Whinney Banks took part; four of the schools coming from areas which are in the top 10% of areas of deprivation in the country.

Throughout the day participants learned and contributed towards the Premier League’s core values; Ambitious, Connected, Fair and Inspiring. At the end, each team was asked to nominate a player who came closest to those values, with the nominee receiving a pack of Top Trumps.

It is often reported that literacy levels in some areas of the Tees Valley fall below the national average. Every participant was given a book to take away, whether they contributed to that figure or not.

For the record, Eston-based Whale Hill won the tournament, beating Marton Manor in the final. They were presented with the trophy by former Boro player and BBC Radio Tees match summariser Neil Maddison. In reality, everyone took something from the day.

Mr Andrew Darcey, an SLT teacher at Whinney Banks, says everyone enjoyed the event, and praised the Foundation for our work.

“Events like this link in with our school values. The youngsters like getting out of school and going to different events, different experiences. This is about sportsmanship, camaraderie and mixing with other schools.

“For the Foundation to provide something like this is brilliant. Some of the kids don’t get outside of Middlesbrough.”

And for the literacy side of the event, Mr Darcey added: “That is very important, we have a big push on reading. Sometimes it’s difficult to get them to read outside of school, so if they’re getting something to take away and enjoy, that’s brilliant.”