Ferry Lane Primary School received a surprise visit from young Spurs player, Oliver Skipp, who joined them for a maths lesson and a kickabout.
Oliver visited Ferry Lane Primary School as part of the Premier League Primary Stars campaign, which encourages children aged 5 to 11 to learn with help from their favourite Premier League clubs and players.
It was Oliver’s 19th birthday and he was greeted eagerly by the Year 4 class, who sang Happy Birthday and presented him with a cake and handmade birthday cards. Oliver and a group of Spurs coaches then joined the class to help them solve some Premier League Primary Stars maths challenges and after the sums were done, everyone went to the playground for a football skills session.
Oliver was keen to emphasise the importance of education, having just studied for and completed two A-Levels alongside his football training. He said:
“It’s not that usual for footballers to keep studying, but in my Spurs age group there were quite a few of us and we all pushed each other.”
The birthday boy was impressed by the pupils’ enthusiasm in both the maths class and the football training and he had a message for children in school. Oliver advised:
“Always make sure you do the best that you can do, no matter what anyone else does. Hard work is fundamental and staying humble and grounded is key. Keep working hard and good things will be around the corner.”
Lisa Rawashdeh, Head Teacher at Ferry Lane Primary School said:
“It’s been fantastic welcoming Oliver Skipp to our school today. The children have loved having the opportunity to ask him questions about his life as a professional footballer and how he balances his studying with his playing commitments. We are delighted to be working with Tottenham Hotspur Foundation this academic year and I know both children and teachers will find their sessions invaluable.”