Young footballers experience professional match

Young footballers got to experience a professional match, thanks to free tickets secured by their schools.

Families from BMAT primary and secondary schools were invited to experience a women’s football match at the London Stadium at the Olympic Park in London.

Having secured 55 free tickets, BMAT director of sport Phil Dawes was keen for pupils and their parents to experience a professional sports match.

They were among a 25,000-strong crowd to watch West Ham United FC take on Tottenham Hotspur.

Mr Dawes said: “Women’s football is really up and coming and is getting more media coverage. As a result, we are getting more interest from girls in school and so have girls football clubs in all of our schools. This trip was a way of generating even more interest in the sport. The standard of play was very high and the stadium was a great setting.

“Lots of our children had never been to a football match like this before. They were so excited to go to a big stadium like that; they were buzzing. It was amazing.”

Children and their families attended from Magna Carta Primary Academy, in Stansted; Cooks Spinney Primary Academy, Freshwaters Primary Academy, Roydon Primary Academy and Burnt Mill Academy, in Harlow.