A member of West Ham United U9s has been awarded the prestigious Young Academy Writer of the Year for 2023 and celebrated with a visit to London Stadium on Sunday.
Inspired by the topic ‘The Challenge’, young defender Ari Rubenstein received the award for his story titled 'The Boy in the Headband', a tale which blended both his love for football and the challenges he faces playing sport with his hearing aid.
Ari’s award saw the Premier League trophy make a special visit to his primary school where the Young Academy Writer of the Year for 2023 was presented with his trophy and a celebratory assembly by the Premier League.
Here, Ari’s classmates got to listen to his winning story and to celebrate further he will also be in attendance for today’s game!
Dan Freedman, author and competition ambassador, had time to deliver a creative writing session to the older students and each pupil was given a signed copy of Dan's latest book 'I am Lenny Brown'. They also had the opportunity to have a class photo next to the Premier League trophy.
Freedman said: “It is great we could congratulate Ari on being Young Academy Writer of the Year. He wrote a fantastic story, which came from the heart. It linked football and his life experiences in such a way that all of us as judges had no choice but to make him the winner.
Head of Education at West Ham United’s Academy Jamie Bather added: "We had some fantastic entries this year, I am proud to see how many of our Academy players were motivated to take part in this year’s Premier League Academy Writer of the Year competition and showcase their creativity.
“Ari wrote a brilliant story, which hit the brief ‘The Challenge’ perfectly! His story ‘The Boy in the Headband’ showed brilliant courage, creativity, and independence to put into words how he feels about his superpowers!
“My favourite line is near the end, ‘My opponents and friends feel my strength long after I tackle them’ which is true in so many ways because Ari is certainly not afraid of a 50/50!
“Seeing Ari celebrate with all his friends and family at his school was fantastic, he was and probably still is the talk of the playground!”
The Boy in the Headband by Ari Rubenstein
It’s hard to explain to people that sometimes I can’t hear. I look like a normal nine-year-old boy, but I have my own superpowers. I can read lips without hearing a sound and I can see things that a lot of people don’t see.
This is a power that lets me read the body language of my opposition and allows me to make it really tough for them.
I might not have the best sense of hearing, but I make up for it with all my other senses. I am fast, I am strong, and I am determined to use my monster engine and try my hardest to win.
I zoom in on all the things going on around me. I make sure I pay attention to what my coaches are saying to make myself be the best I can be.
To you, I might just look like a boy wearing a headband but to me, I get to play the sport that I love with no one seeing the tiny machine that sits in my ear.
The machine that allows me to hear what is going on around me.
The machine that allows me to be judged for my football and not what I don’t have, which is a very good ear.
My opponents and friends feel my strength long after I tackle them.
I never give up and my fitness knows no end.
I am a happy boy with superpowers, and I get to play football for a team that I love, and I look cool in a headband doing it.
Come on you Irons!
