Students at St. Saviour's Primary School recently enjoyed a memorable visit from West Ham United stars, as part of the West Ham United Foundation’s Premier League Primary Stars programme during Black History Month.
Led by Rebecca Ward, students participated in a dedicated Black History Month workshop that explored the story of Manchester City Women’s footballer Demi Stokes, all tied to the Premier League’s No Room for Racism campaign. Students engaged with Demi’s story, who has been outspoken about racism in football following her experience of racist abuse in her very first game.
The students were then surprised by the unexpected arrival of Wes Foderingham, Andy Irving and Megan Walsh, and were thrilled to meet the players and ask them questions about their personal journeys, their experiences in professional football, and their thoughts on diversity and inclusion.
One student, who was visibly excited, exclaimed: “I can’t believe we've got West Ham players in our class, this is the best day ever!” This set the tone for an engaging Q&A session where the players shared their stories of resilience and the importance of role models.
Foderingham spoke about his journey as a black athlete in professional football, explaining how experiences similar to the surprise visit helped him rise through challenges growing up.
He said: “It's important to get into the local community and speak to the schools, in order to show kids that we’re really just regular people, because getting a chance to speak with us can have a massive impact.
“When I was in school, I remember people coming in and participating in these kinds of workshops and it’s the kind of thing that stays with you for a long time.”
Walsh, a goalkeeper for West Ham women's team, encouraged the students to value diversity, emphasising that everyone has a unique story and background that makes them stronger as a team.
Irving spoke about his path to West Ham United and how he has adapted to each challenge along the way. He shared insights on working through the ups and downs of a football career, encouraging students to remain resilient and adaptable.
“I played in Scotland, Germany and Austria before I came to West Ham, but each challenge helps you grow,” he said.
The West Ham United Foundation’s Premier League Primary Stars programme, supported by the Premier League, is designed to help young students build essential life skills, from personal resilience to social awareness, through interactive workshops, mentoring and hands-on sessions.
By bringing first-team players into the classroom, the Foundation offers students relatable role models who can share first-hand the values of dedication, respect and teamwork.
When asked about how they’d feel if someone to were to experience racism during one of their football matches, one year six student said: “I would be really upset if I heard one of my teammates being abused, because it’s not right for someone to experience that.”
The session concluded with a Q&A discussion about the No Room for Racism campaign, as the players answered carefully-prepared questions from students and emphasised the importance of standing against discrimination.
“Football comes into the community in a way that no other sport does. It’s important for the children to know that football can be inclusive and a way of belonging,” said St. Saviour’s Executive Headteacher Fanoula Smith.
“I think you develop a lot of your attitudes by the time you're ten. So, eight and nine are formative ages where you're still shaping your ideas. Having a positive role model is important in knowing that you can see yourself achieving something, whether it's a Black role model, a woman, or whoever it might be. I think being able to represent the community and knowing that you have a place is incredibly important.”
For more information about West Ham United Foundation, click HERE.
Click HERE for more on Premier League Primary Stars, and HERE for more on No Room For Racism.
