Academy Bring A Smile To Those Less Fortunate
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BORO'S Academy players and staff brought a smile to the faces of staff and children of a special needs school in Stockton this morning.
First, second and third year scholars from Boro's Academy at Rockliffe were joined by Academy manager David Parnaby, coaches Stephen Pears and Colin Cooper, administrator Wendy Thomas and the club's community liaison officer Diane O'Connell at Abbey Hill school, close to North Tees Hospital.
There the stars of tomorrow mixed with school pupils of varying needs and disabilities, handing out presents and programmes and signing autographs throughout their 90-minute stay.
"We kept the visit of the players a secret until assembly this morning, if we had told them before they would have been too excited," smiles acting head Claire Devine.
"But when we told the children you would think it was Santa Claus himself who was coming!
"It meant so much to them that people would not just give presents, but their time as well. I would just like to thank the club for making the days of so many people."
Forty-eight hours ago Josh Walker, pictured below, captained England's U17 team to a 1-0 win over Turkey. This morning he was among his Middlesbrough team-mates.
"It's a great experience for us all here," he commented. "It's a great leveller this sort of thing isn't it? Visits to great places like this where people do so much for others who can't help themselves, well what can I say? We should all fell very lucky."
Academy manager Dave Parnaby added: "It was a special way to spend a morning, a nice thing to do and I have a feeling this could be a standing arrangement now.
"The school's staff were very, very pleased and our boys were a credit to the club.
"It could have been difficult for a few of the lads, but a little brief from Diane and the deputy head at the school telling them what to expect helped.
"When we went into the different units it made us realise just how fortunate we are in life. We all moan about jobs and things we have to do, but when you see staff with the dedication they have working with children with all kinds of learning disabilities, it makes you realise you don't have much to moan about.
"Our boys have the world at their feet, the children we saw today are striving, with great help, to get what they can out of life. Hopefully when they moan about having to do extra training, or a coach is giving them earache about something, they'll remember this morning.
"It makes you appreciate everything you've got."
Click here to view a larger version of the above photo
Click here to view a larger version of the above photo
Click here to view a larger version of the above photo
