17 January 2017
Foundation of Light is inviting local schools to compete for the chance to defend Sunderland AFC’s Premier League title at a prestigious national football tournament.
The club’s official charity will be running qualifying heats in February to determine who will wear the famous red and white stripes in the Premier League Schools Tournament at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge later this year.
St Bede’s Comprehensive School (Peterlee) claimed victory for the Black Cats in the 2016 Under 13 competition, defeating hosts Everton in the final at Goodison Park, while Broadway Juniors (Sunderland) won the Fair Play Award in the Under 11 mixed tournament.
“I am elated,” St Bede’s PE teacher Gemma Brown told premierleague.com. “We came with the message of go and do your best and then getting to the semi-final, beating Newcastle, and then getting to the final and winning is unbelievable.
“I have really seen the players grow. Over this tournament they have improved and have worked as a team, rather than having the odd player that stands out. You have to be a team to win something like this.
“This kind of tournament inspires them and gives them the belief that they can succeed. I didn’t think we would get to the final but we believed in ourselves and dug in and it proves that you can succeed if you try. That’s life skills, not just football.”
The Premier League Schools Tournament gives hundreds of youngsters the chance to experience the thrill of being treated like a top-flight footballer, with all travel to the finals paid for by the Premier League.
Players will wear authentic Sunderland AFC adidas club kit, use the same dressing-rooms as the professionals, come down the tunnel to the Premier League anthem and are refereed by Premier League match officials.
Sunderland AFC U11 Mixed Qualifiers
Sunderland & Washington Schools
Monday 6th February 2017, 9am – 12pm
Venue: Silksworth Sports Complex, Sunderland, SR3 1PD
South Tyneside Schools
Tuesday 7th February 2017, 9am – 12pm
Venue: Mortimer Community College, South Shields, NE34 4UG
North/Central Durham Schools
Wednesday 8th February 2017, 9am – 12pm
Venue: North Durham Academy, Stanley, DH9 0TW
East Durham Schools
Thursday 9th February 2017, 9am – 12pm
Venue: East Durham College, Peterlee, SR8 2RN
South Durham Schools
Friday 10th February February 2017, 9am – 12pm
Venue: Greenfield Community College, Newton Aycliffe, DL5 7LF
U13 Girls Qualifiers
Sunderland/South Tyneside Schools
Tuesday 14th February 2017, 9am-12pm
Venue: Silksworth Sports Complex, Sunderland, SR3 1PD
All Durham/Washington Schools
Thursday 16th February 2017, 9am – 12pm
Venue: Riverside Leisure Complex, Chester-le-Street, DH3 3SJ
Club and National Finals
The dates and times of the Sunderland AFC finals at the Academy of Light and the Premier League Schools Tournament finals at Stamford Bridge will be confirmed at a later date.
To register your school download and complete either of the forms below and email to Premier League Schools Sport Coordinator Aaron Croft aaron.croft@foundationoflight.co.uk.
View a selection of images of the 2016 Premier League Schools Tournament
Watch BBC Match of The Day Kickabout’s coverage of the event on their YouTube channel
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