'PL Primary Stars girls tournament is a life-changing experience'

Brentford FC's Gtech Community Stadium was the venue as children across England and Wales lived out their dreams recently as part of the latest Premier League Primary Stars Football Tournament.

The two-day event gave schoolchildren the opportunity to experience the life of a Premier League footballer for the day, playing at a Premier League stadium and wearing their club's kit, all under the watchful eye of Professional Game Match Officials Limited referees.

Thousands of children from schools across England and Wales had competed for the chance to represent their local clubs in this year's tournament, one of the competition elements of the Premier League Primary Stars education programme.

The third running of the PL Primary Stars National Girls Football Tournament took place on day two and featured teams from across the English football pyramid, with representation from the Premier League, English Football League and National League.

Across the two days, more than 300 girls took part while 14,500 girls from 1,743 schools were involved in local qualifying tournaments.

And after a competitive day of football, it was Fleetwood Town's St Wulstan's & St Edmund's Catholic academy who came away with the trophy.

Here, those that took part tell the story of an incredible day.

Norwich City

Jocelyn, Woodlands Primary Academy

"I am a sporty person and I have been playing football since I was five-years-old. I love it.

"The girls in our team all have different personalities and we are good in our individual ways. We work together and we all love each other. Being a part of this has brought us closer together.

"To come and play on this pitch where professional footballers play, to have your parents watching you and cheering you on as you play is really cool. I'm going to be able to say that I've played on a professional football pitch.

"It has given me confidence. I don't always believe in myself. But playing in this, doing well, makes me think that maybe I am actually a good player that I should start believing in myself a bit more."

Stoke City

Steph Smalley, Year 2 teacher and PE lead, The Willows Primary School

"Ever since we qualified, they've been so excited. The whole school is behind us, we had lots of lovely messages from parents and staff, we had T-shirts made and everyone cheered us off on the minibus when we left. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

"They are just an amazing group of nice, intelligent, supportive girls, who have really gelled and worked well together. They pick each other up. They're a great team.

"I hope being a part of today will give them the confidence to say, 'I'm good at football, I've played against some outstanding players, and this has given me the courage to continue at high school.'

"For them to get this far, to hold their heads up high, to play in this environment in London, is just amazing. It makes me really proud of them. It shows them what they can achieve. I want them to appreciate how good they are.

"Stoke City are a really good club, they support us, they train the girls all year. They deliver coaching after school. We have strong links with them. They are always at the end of a phone if I've got a question, it's just nice to have the experts there to help with tactics. I've definitely become a better coach with their help. I've learned from these girls, never mind Stoke City!"

Bristol Rovers

Brooklyn, captain, Barrs Court Primary School

"It is a fantastic and privileged experience to be here. It's outstanding. I have never been on an actual Premier League pitch before. It's amazing trying to feel how the grass is.

"I've been playing for about three years. I want to be a footballer when I'm older. Our team are amazing and I'm really proud of them for trying their best.

"I love scoring and to do it at a Premier League stadium, in front of a crowd and with your parents jumping up and down and cheering you on, it's amazing. I was thinking, 'is it going to go in, am I going to sky it?' When the ball goes in, it gives you a shock.

"I've learnt to not get frustrated and how to calm down. If I get the ball, I don't shoot first time. I'm trying to get in the right position and then strike. This has helped me do that."

Stockport County

Ayesha Ansari, teaching assistant and assistant coach, Lady Barn House School

"Today has been fantastic. Everyone has been lovely. The conversations between teams and the camaraderie have been great. To see where girls football has come, it's phenomenal.

"To be able to come away from your home cities, experience a new venue, experience a crowd, it's fantastic. They've not done anything on this scale before. It's wonderful to see.

"It will give everyone here life experiences, life lessons, new friendships and that sense of teamwork. The experience will stay with them for a very long time to come. It shows them what they can achieve.

"It's so important that young women are inspired to carry on in sport. We are often told that you get to a certain age, certain things happen to your bodies and it will slow you down. Seeing so many girls out here playing to such a high level, it will inspire them to carry on and say, 'we are the next generation of beautiful athletes.'

"It was wonderful to see them walk out of the tunnel. To be in any sort of stadium is a big deal and so I'm sure they were exhilarated and excited. For me, any experience of sport is not necessarily about the day, it's about making memories and that legacy to take forward in your life, and that inspiration for what you can gain from teamwork, friendships and communication.

"An event run by the Premier League is amazing because it has the status to it. It shows these girls that they are valued and recognised."

Cheltenham Town

Aimee, Swindon Village Primary School

"I started playing for the school team when I was in Year 4 and I have been the goalkeeper ever since. This tournament is like a dream because I've always wanted to play in a Premier League stadium. It was better than I imagined.

"When we walked out of the tunnel to the Premier League anthem, it felt too good to be true. My heart was racing. I was nervous but it was just amazing. I didn't think I'd ever get to do it. I've always wanted to play in a team of all my friends, let alone doing this in a professional stadium, it's hard to explain how good this is.

"Playing in the qualifying tournament and at the stadium will boost my confidence because of the saves I have made against other great teams. It's changed my thoughts about myself as a goalkeeper.

"I'm just really thankful for the privilege of coming here. It's made me feel really special. It's made me feel that whatever I put my mind to, I can do."

Keith Stroud, PGMOL referee

"Seeing all the kids and their endeavour, enthusiasm and the respect they have towards one another and us as match officials has been fantastic.

"When I was asked to do this, they didn't have to ask me twice. I have had two days of fun; I've enjoyed every minute. Most importantly, the girls and boys will hopefully go away with great memories of a superb tournament.

"When we were in the tunnel, they looked at us and said, 'we've got proper referees!' That was humbling. Just being in the stadium, the atmosphere and having someone that some of them might recognise refereeing their matches is great for them.

"This is a reminder of why we got into football in the first place. We never forget where we came from and where we started at grassroots level. To be able to see these children playing at the levels they are, it just brings it back home to what it's all about.

"For me it's been a big family of people wanting to play football and enjoy it, the sheer enjoyment of it all is something I'll take home with me."

Charlton Athletic

Martinique, Southborough Primary School

"I started playing in Year 4. Playing for the first time was great but I was like a scarecrow because I didn't know what to do! Over time, I got to practice, I got used to playing football and I got much better.

"I never would have guessed that two years later I would be playing on a Premier League pitch.

"Being a part of today is a life-changing experience as I've never been to a stadium before and there lots of nice people helping us. It's just really fun.

"The memory I will take with me is meeting all of these people and being in the stadium, it's just so amazing to have all of my family here to support me.

"My team means a lot to me; we have been together for years. It's so nice to see people who have the same interests as you and people who love football as much as you do. 

"It was nerve-racking at the start but once you start playing, you get in the zone and you play your best. I have never played in front of so many people. I will remember this forever."

Fleetwood Town

Ola, St Wulstan's & St Edmund's Catholic Academy

"Today has been amazing. The best day of my life. I'm completely speechless. I feel really happy that I'm able to share all of this with my friends and my family.

"The final was very tough. Norwich are a really good side but we are a good side as well. We kept our heads when it went to extra time and got through it.

"It's hard to put into words what it was like scoring in the final. I was thinking that I need to get a goal, I need to help my team out. When the ball hit the net, it was extraordinary.

"I love this group of girls. Lifting the trophy was just amazing. It hasn't sunk in yet. I am proud of all of us. We did brilliantly well.

"When I came out of the tunnel at the start of the day, I felt like I was a professional footballer, that's what I want to be when I am older.

"Winning this will drive me because I know that I am at that standard and that I am good enough."

Bath City

Asher Randall, Year 5 teacher, Weston All Saints Primary School

"It's a superb opportunity for our girls to come and watch some fantastic players and to test ourselves against the best sides in the country.

"When I restarted the football team after COVID a couple years ago, I had 11 girls came to the first session and now I've got 35 every week.

"It's really nice for them to have the recognition that women's football wasn't particularly getting a few years ago. Whereas now, look at where we are, a massive stadium with 20 really good teams.

"Personally, I will take an incredible amount of pride for the girls who've been representing our school. They will treasure the experience forever and I will treasure the memories. It's been the opportunity of a lifetime."

What is Premier League Primary Stars?

Premier League Primary Stars is the Premier League's primary school education programme, using the appeal of football to support children to be active and develop essential life skills. It is available to every primary school in England and Wales, with over 19,000 schools engaged with the programme. More than 1.3million school sessions and events have already been delivered.

Funded by the Premier League, through the Premier League Charitable Fund, the programme has enabled over 68,000 teachers to use resources for English, PSHE, PE and Maths, to help children to be active and develop essential life skills. There are 650+ free resources available.

Currently 104 professional football club charities from the National League to the Premier League run in-classroom Premier League Primary Stars sessions in local schools, with over 18m attendances by primary school pupils.

To find out more about delivering the programme in your school, please visit plprimarystars.com.

Premier League investment into women's and girls' football

The Premier League is investing £21m into women's and girls' football between 2022-2025. Within this is £10.5m for the grassroots game including £5.25m for the FA’s network of Girls’ Emerging Talent Centres (ETCs) and £3m for a new strategy for the FA Women’s National League.

The Premier League also provides wide-ranging support to women and girls through its facilities funding and community programmes. Over 100,000 girls take part in Premier League community programmes each year and over 5,000 girls are part of the 73 Girls’ Emerging Talent Centres.

More than a game

The "More than a game" campaign showcases the support the Premier League provides for communities and the wider game.

The Premier League has provided world-leading levels of investment into communities and football at all levels in England and Wales, with a £1.6billion contribution over three years, equating to 16 per cent of the League's total revenue.