Leeds United calls on schools to join centenary project

A unique opportunity is being offered to primary schools across the city to be a part of Leeds United’s centenary celebrations with an unforgettable prize up for grabs.

Over 20 local schools have already signed up to the special time capsule project which will help mark the 100th birthday of the club in October. Working in partnership with Leeds City Council and the Leeds United Foundation, the club is keen to engage with youngsters in a fun, creative and collaborative way connecting the club’s rich heritage and its role within the city of Leeds over the last 100 years.

Pupils in Year 5 and 6 will be asked to work in small teams to create something entirely unique to showcase a theme or a special part of Leeds United’s history.

The project will start when schools return in September and each school registered to take part will be free to decide how to approach the brief, submitting just one entry into the competition.

The winning school’s entry will be officially unveiled as part of a special commemorative event in October to mark the club’s centenary, with the project being placed into a Centenary Time Capsule in the player’s tunnel, meaning it will become a permanent part of the club.

Councillor Judith Blake CBE is backing the initiative and encouraging schools to be a part of the centenary year for the club, she said:

“This is a unique opportunity for primary schools across the city to play their part in Leeds United’s centenary celebrations later this year. Leeds United is a club at the very heart of our city and communities, and it would be fantastic to see as many of our schools and children involved in this initiative as possible.”

Bethan Tidey, Deputy Headteacher at Beeston Primary School, has already submitted her school into the project and added:

“I felt honoured to be part of the strategic planning group for the Leeds United Centenary Time Capsule Project. As the closest Primary School to Elland Road Stadium, Beeston Primary School have strong links with the club and the Leeds United Foundation play a big part in our curriculum offer and help deliver high quality P.E. to our children.

“I’m sure that our Y5 children in September will be incredibly motivated to take part in the competition and I know that staff are already planning an exciting unit of work; how great to be able to celebrate a significant event and learn more about our local history at the same time.”

The Leeds United Foundation will play an important role in supporting some of the schools they are working in across the city with the project, Nigel Thewlis, Head of Education for the club’s official charity, said:

“This is going to be a really exciting project for youngsters and teachers to be involved in and we look forward to hopefully working with some new schools during the campaign.

“I know that this is going to be something that will allow the pupils to be really creative and youngsters will be able to learn new things about the club and the city they live in whilst also developing their teamwork and project management skills.”

If you would like your school to take part in this fantastic project, please register your interest now by clicking here.

For more information on the project please contact nigel.thewlis@leedsunited.com.

 

This post is based on a press release issued by Leeds United FC