Ben goes back to school

Ben Davies supported Tottenham Hotspur Foundation in delivering football and reading activities for local schoolchildren today.

The session was delivered as part of the Premier League Primary Stars education programme that uses the appeal of football to help children be active and develop essential life skills.

Ben joined in with Year 5 and 6 pupils at St Francis de Sales Catholic Infant & Junior School, opposite Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as they took part in passing drills and small-sided matches.

He then headed to the classroom, where he supported Year 4 pupils developing their reading skills.

It was not the first time Ben has joined the Foundation’s education team, with our Welsh defender a prominent supporter of the National Literacy Trust. He has also visited the London Academy of Excellence Tottenham that is sponsored by the Club and based on the Stadium campus.

Ben, himself, has secured an economics and business degree from the Open University during his time with the Club, and was elected to the Professional Footballers’ Association's Players’ Board in November.

He said: “As a Club we represent our area and I think it’s vital we give back to our community. It’s so important what we do in the local community through the Foundation.

“The opportunity to come to sessions like the one today is something, as players, we all enjoy. We really do feel the rewards of engaging with our community and being able to give back as much as we can. It's the little things like seeing how happy the kids are that make it worthwhile.”

Over the last four years, the Foundation has engaged 7,000 children across almost 100 local schools through Premier League Primary Stars.

Andrew Wands, Foundation education manager, said: “Funding we receive from the Premier League, through the Premier League Charitable Fund, is really helping us make a significant impact.

“More than a third of primary school pupils are working below the expected standard for reading at the end of Key Stage 2 in Haringey, but last year we utilised Premier League Primary Stars resources to deliver 180 sessions to 240 reluctant readers, with those reporting English was important to them doubling as a result.”