Preston North End pair Ben Whiteman and Ben Woodburn have been inspiring the next generation after visiting children at Cop Lane CE Primary School in Penwortham, as part of Premier League Primary Stars [PLPS].
As part of PLPS, Preston North End Community and Education Trust reaches out to primary schools within Preston, promoting healthy active lifestyles and developing the skills and ambitions of Preston girls and boys aged five to 11-years-old on and off the sports field.
The North End duo watched an energetic gymnastics dance performed by the pupils which they had been practicing, before taking part in a fun and varied Question and Answer session in the assembly hall.
Woodburn said: “They were all good questions – asking us about our favourite players, stadiums and moments in a North End shirt.
“You see the smiles on the kids’ faces when they see us, hopefully we can inspire them to do whatever they want to do in life – whether that’s football or not.
“When you come to things like this, you see how happy the children are and it shows how big the club is around the city.”
Ethan, a pupil at Cop Lane CE Primary School and big PNE fan, expressed his delight at the players’ visit: “I support PNE, so it was really good to meet them and I was so excited to ask a question!
“The PLPS lessons that we do at school are really good fun, and because PNECET coaches are here, I try extra hard.
"I have improved my dance and gymnastics since starting the lessons and won a certificate for doing particularly well.
“The coaches are very helpful – if we do something wrong they don’t shout at us, they ask us politely.”
Elsewhere, Josh Onomah recently paid a visit to Middleforth Primary School and Finlay Cross-Adair met children at Ribbleton Infant Avenue School – both Lilywhites players encouraged the pupils’ work in class and spoke highly of the PLPS programme's success.
For more information about our Premier League Primary Stars delivery, please click here.