West Ham United, with support from Matt Jarvis, helped to provide a warm welcome to Team GB and Team Sweden ahead of their Billie Jean King Cup Play-Off at the Copper Box Arena, which Team GB won 3-1 on 11-12 November, with local school groups taking part in a community activity planned by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).
Bobby Moore Academy, a West Ham United Foundation partner, took students on the short journey from school across Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to the Copper Box for a behind the scenes experience.
“It’s been an absolutely incredible day,” said former Hammers winger Jarvis who attended as part of the Club’s Players’ Project. “Coming down and watching practice and chatting with the women’s players, seeing the draw. It’s all been an incredible experience, just really fun, energetic and enabled everyone to enjoy the whole competitiveness of the Billie Jean King Cup.”
The Billie Jean King Cup is the World Cup of women's tennis, pitting teams representing countries against one another. Formerly known as Federation Cup (1963-1995) and Fed Cup (1995-2020), the competition is now the world’s largest annual international team competition in women’s sport, with a record 110 nations competing in 2022. Now aged 79, Billie Jean King is a former American tennis player who won 30 Grand Slam singles and doubles titles during a legendary career.
Alongside four other schools, young people aged 11-16 from Bobby Moore Academy got the opportunity to watch Team GB players in training, take the walk of players from the tunnel onto court, see the draw for the weekend’s Play-Off tie and ask questions to the teams. The LTA also have plans to engage the students in further playing opportunities across their school settings.
British number two Jodie Burrage shared her appreciation and excitement with the schoolchildren: “Playing in front of you guys this morning was great, you gave us so much energy. It’s a real privilege to play in a place like this and to play for your country and I can’t wait to experience it.”
Bobby Moore Academy teacher Louise Banham-Scott was delighted by the impact of the experience on her students, explaining: “I think certainly firstly for the young women in the audience today, seeing two international teams with the two major, major, roles filled by women is fantastic for them to see that you can do anything you want to do.
“Also, for fellow footballers, I think they have been absolutely amazed by seeing Matt Jarvis here today. I think it’s been such a lovely day for opening the children’s minds, seeing that you can do things: especially with the questions being asked and the responses being really down to earth. It makes it seem like anybody can achieve that.”
The inspirational activity formed part of West Ham United’s Players’ Project whereby men’s, women’s and academy players give their time and energy towards a range of community projects and causes.
West Ham United Foundation has a breadth of educational programmes across the community, including Premier League Primary Stars, Premier League Inspires and Community Hub School provision. At the forefront of each of them is delivering engaging curriculum and bespoke support to students to improve their personal and academic development.
Speaking about the difference the partnership with West Ham makes, Ms Banham-Scott shared: “The partnership with West Ham is vital within the school and within the children’s lives and their future because they’re given opportunities that they may not have elsewhere and so having this hook very early on in their academic careers and their lives is very beneficial because they’re helping the children to breaking down barriers and expose themselves to new and different things.”
British number three Harriet Dart said: “I think it’s important to surround yourself with really good people and that kind of motivates you to get back and do the best you can. It’s just about keeping a really positive outlook on things and having a bit of perspective.”
“Watching the girls today has inspired me to carry on with football, carrying on with what I want to do. Especially with one of the questions they answered about how they encouraged themselves when they doubt themselves,” said Bobby Moore Academy pupil and West Ham United supporter Darcey.
“Not many people in the world would have this opportunity to meet someone they’ve looked up to their whole life and it gives more opportunities in life.”
Fellow student Zoe, also enjoyed the chance to take part, said: “It really helps us as athletes and aspiring athletes and people who are not into sport. It helps them build their confidence in sports they want to participate in and it helps the sporting environment in our school.”
Relishing the chance to support an activity promoting female sport and pathways, Jarvis noted that seeing is believing, concluding: “They are role models for the next generation. I want to help to inspire other kids to take part in sport and go through and try and make the most of all of their abilities and try and achieve any dreams that they have.”
