As World Cup excitement sweeps across the globe, a group of students from Salford had a unique opportunity to be part of the celebrations live on television.
Five students from EdStart schools’ Salford site were invited to Media City, where they took to a specially built five-a-side football pitch created for the duration of the tournament.
The appearance formed part of BBC Breakfast’s coverage marking the start of the World Cup, which is taking place across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
During the live broadcast, the students enjoyed a lively kickabout while BBC sports reporter Chris Hollins shared the buzz of the tournament with viewers.
One student, Nevaeh Nelson, was interviewed on air, confidently sharing her predictions for the competition and speaking about her plans to watch the matches with her grandad.
“We are very excited, I am looking forward to it, and I am going to watch the games with my Grandad,” she said.
Nevaeh predicted that 60 years of English football hurt will end this summer, as Thomas Tuchel’s side bid to win the country’s first World Cup since 1966.
James Bradley, Headteacher at EdStart Schools Salford, praised the students’ involvement:
“This was a fantastic opportunity for our students to visit MediaCityUK and see how breakfast news is produced,” he said.
“Football is a big part of life at EdStart, and our students were thrilled to be part of the BBC’s World Cup coverage. Even the wet weather couldn’t dampen their spirits!
“Our young people were a real credit to themselves and their school, and our staff who got up at the crack of dawn to support them on the day did a fantastic job. We are incredibly proud of how well our students represented the school and really embraced the experience.”
EdStart Schools supports young people who have faced challenges in mainstream education, often linked to social, emotional, and mental health needs. The organisation is dedicated to helping students re-engage with learning, develop confidence, and move forward into positive futures.
No doubt students at the Pendleton school are looking forward to Thursday evening, when England begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Dallas.
Unlike Scotland supporters, who had to stay up until 2am to watch their team face Haiti on Sunday, England fans will have a more convenient 9pm kick-off on Wednesday 17 June to see the Three Lions in action.
