This weekend a group of students from Grainville school travelled to Manchester for a weekend aimed to inspire, motivate and challenge. Staying at the award-winning Hotel Football with views over Old Trafford, the weekend was packed with football workshops, presentations and matches at some of England’s leading venues and organisations.
Friday was spent at University Academy 92, a leading higher education institution in Greater Manchester providing its students with revolutionary study programs in Sport, Media, Digital and Business. Our students gained an insight into what studying at UA92 would be like and the career progressions it would offer. In a truly remarkable facility with innovative technology at its core, our students participated in talks and discussions on how technology is used by University staff to improve performance at elite level football and how to plan and develop their own interests into individualized goals for life.
Workshops were coordinated by Reegan Russel, a former Grainville Student whose knowledge and experiences were wonderfully valuable. Being able to address students from his former school gave a valuable insight into what opportunities can stem from attending Grainville School
After a quick visit to the Manchester United Megastore, Grainville were then given the opportunity to play an 11 a side match at Ordsall Leisure Centre against one of the Manchester United Street Reds project teams. Kitted out head to toe in a Manchester United Away kit, our team put on a valiant effort with the final score being 5-2 to the home team and goals coming from Kian Herlihy and Jayden Planner.
Saturday morning saw a return to UA 92 when students participated in a presentation from staff at Foundation 92
“A charity whose focus is on supporting people to improve their lives through sport. These gave opportunities to hear about careers in football through the schemes that the foundation runs learning how participation in sport can improve Mental Health. The staff from Foundation 92 we’re very impressed by Grainville students for their participation and contributions in a well organised and insightful set of workshops.”
A short coach trip later and the group arrived at the Peninsula Stadium to watch Salford City FC, a club famously owned by the Class of 92, unfortunately get beat by Carlise United 4 goals to 1. The match gave an opportunity for the students to watch football at one of League 2’s best grounds soaking up all the sights and smells of what the Football League offers. “The moment I learned that the department were approving off island trips, I knew instantly of a group of students that would benefit from an intervention such as this. Whilst the trip was designed to inspire, motivate and challenge our students, it’s certainly given me ideas of what more we can do in the future”.
