Darnell Fisher and Tommy Spurr were welcomed to St. Clare's Primary School recently for World Book Day.
Both Darnell and Tommy visited the primary school as part of the PNE Premier League Primary Stars Programme - where after a quick question and answer, the duo sat down with school children who explained to them their favourite book.
The visit came as perfect timing for Miss Bridgeman who used the occasion to celebrate World Book Day, with pupils bringing in their favourite book in to class.
On the visit, she said: “The children have really enjoyed having the players come in today. They’ve been really excited and we had a few excited faces when they walked in and they knew exactly who the players were.
“It’s been fantastic getting the players to come in and talk about what they’re reading at the moment. The fact that they enjoy reading does spur the children on to read, especially nowadays with the technology which takes away from their reading time - so getting them back focused via players who tell them that they read is great.
“Sometimes a lot of children in our school enjoy reading and getting stuck into it, but I think with everything going on with after school clubs, clubs outside of school and technology, their reading has been reduced especially with boys.
“They definitely knew who was coming in to visit them today and appreciated the visit. I think children just think that players just play football so knowing that they need to read as well just encouraged the children to pick up a book and read more.”
With Fisher and Spurr taking time out of their schedule to pay the school a visit, Fisher spoke of the importance such visits can have on the community.
PNE’s No. 14 added: “Hopefully they’ve enjoyed us being here and that it gives them a boost as it gives us a boost which is good for the community so long may it continue.
“A lot of people don’t realise that we as footballers have to read a lot. We’ll read a lot in terms of team instructions and what’s required of us, and we’ll often read the matchday programme. When we’re focused in the changing room, we’ll see what’s going on and see how they’re lined up and see what the manager thinks and see things in general around Preston.”