Everton Quartet Visit Local Schools

Everton Quartet Visit Local Schools

A quartet of Under-21 stars were out and about in the community on Thursday afternoon visiting local primary schools to help school children with their studies.

Young Blues duo Mason Holgate and Anthony Evans called in at Whiston Willis Primary School to take part in an Everton in the Community-delivered Premier League Reading Stars session, while Courtney Duffus and Mateusz Hewelt visited Rudston Primary School to be interviewed by Year Six pupils for a school radio project.

Arriving at Whiston Willis straight from training, Holgate and Evans got involved in a reading quiz with Year Five pupils before helping them with individual reading work on the class iPad and the Toffees pair were put on the spot by the enthusiastic group as they were quizzed on all things reading, including their favourite author, favourite books and their ultimate comic book hero.



Speaking after the Q&A session, 19-year-old Holgate said: “I enjoyed reading as a child but haven’t read much recently aside from autobiographies. A programme like this is a great way to encourage children to read whilst combining it with one of their favourite hobbies - football. The class were really enthusiastic to learn and all left at the end of the day with big smiles on their faces.”

Everton in the Community have been delivering the Premier League Reading Stars programme at Whiston Willis Primary School since January 2016. The programme is designed to stimulate children aged 9-13 who love football and encourage them to engage, and achieve, in literacy by using a range of football-related resources.

As part of their ongoing relationship with the Club’s official charity, this programme is funded by The James Greenop Foundation (TJGF) to deliver the project to James’ former school. Set up to create a lasting legacy of the young Everton fan who was tragically killed in a road traffic accident in October 2013, the Foundation embraces the mantra that everyone has the potential to achieve their dreams.

By providing small grants and financial assistance, the charity aims to support and empower local children, young adults and families who are experiencing difficulties and disadvantages that prevent them from achieving their full potential as active citizens and valued members of society. The James Greenop Foundation was recently selected as Liverpool City Council’s Children’s Charity of the Year.



While two of their teammates were brushing on their reading skills, Duffus and Hewelt were being interviewed for ‘Radio Rudston’, an in-house radio show that educates pupils about media, presentation and social skills.

The Under-21s duo were joined by six members of Year Six and their teacher, Mr Ball, on arrival and led to the school’s very own radio studio. Duffus and Hewelt were both quizzed about injuries they have faced in their footballing careers so far and spoke about how they overcame the challenges.

The Year Six pupils of Rudston Primary are currently taking part in a literacy project focusing on the theme of ‘challenge’ and interviewed both players ‘on air’ while working on fine-tuning their presentation and communication skills. Striker Duffus was asked about his recent long-term knee injury while goalkeeper Mateusz talked the students through the experience and frustration of breaking his thumb.



After the visit drew to a close, 20-year-old Duffus said: "I've really enjoyed coming along today. It's great practice for the kids to interview us and it's great practice for me and Mateusz as well. It's never easy coming through a long-term injury as a footballer but it's important to believe in yourself and come back stronger than ever and hopefully I managed to get that message across today."

For more information on Everton in the Community programmes, please visit www.evertonfc.com/community.