England’s footballers have become heroes for children across the country and at Kalvin Phillips former primary school they are even doing their hair like him.
Leeds United’s Phillips, 25, has played a crucial part in the Three Lions incredible run to the their first ever European Championship final.
Until 2007 he was a pupil at Whingate Primary School in Armley, Leeds, and the current crop of children there have found his starring role at Euro 2020 a “huge inspiration”.
Co-headteacher Karen Loney told i: “Lots of the children when they have their kits on have Phillips on the back. We’ve got a few children who have arrived in school with topknots, they try and have their hair look like Kalvin. They think the world of him.
“It’s been amazing for them to have such a positive role model achieving his dreams through hard work and determination.
“He played football on the same pitches that they do now, he’s playing for the national side who’s having their best competition that most people can remember and he’s been such an instrumental part of that team. We’re all incredibly proud of him.”
Recalling what Phillips was like at school, Miss Loney, who was Phillips’s year six class teacher said: “He was exactly as he is now, really happy, he had a winning smile, absolutely loved football, just a really nice lad from a really lovely family.
“He was in our football team and showed he was brilliant then, so we’re not surprised he’s gone on to achieve such amazing things.”
To celebrate the semi-final on Wednesday pupils were asked to wear red or white or football kits to celebrate the “historic occasion”. The school will do the same again on Monday “whatever the result”, Miss Loney added: “There’s no reason why we shouldn’t win it now, we’ve got everything crossed.”
Meanwhile 40 miles south in Sheffield there’s an “extra special buzz” at High Storr School where Kyle Walker was a pupil 15 years ago.
His former head of year Eileen Hetherington, who also taught him PE, told i: “I’m talking about it in classes the whole time, I think the whole nation has got the buzz but we’ve got that extra special buzz because he’s one of ours.
“It just feels absolutely unbelievable. I’m a massive England supporter and have been for years so it’s even better seeing somebody you taught playing brilliantly.”
On display at school is an England shirt the Manchester City player donated, on which he wrote: “To everyone at High Storrs school keep working hard and never give up! Best wishes”.
Walker was a striker as a schoolboy and his class won the school’s interform competition every year, Ms Hethrington added: “He had the desire and he certainly had the natural ability and determination to succeed. When he doubted himself he persevered went to Sheffield United and went from a centre forward to right back and kept his speed, just brilliant.
“His whole body shape’s completely changed from a skinny little lad to look at him now, he looks amazing and he’s playing superbly as the elder statesman he is now.
“When the children see someone who was in your school who’s actually made it, whatever that dream is, it give them that motivation and inspiration to achieve their dreams.”
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/36s0XtO
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