Rotherham United Community Sports Trust have been running a competition for local children to design the Trusts Christmas card for 2018 as part of our Premier League Primary Stars Programme.
Premier League Primary Stars uses the appeal of the Premier League and professional football clubs to inspire children to learn, be active and develop important life skills. Available to every primary school in England and Wales, it inspires girls and boys aged 5-11 in the classroom, the playground and on the sports field. Professional football club staff work with teachers to deliver fun, educational sessions in a range of subjects within local partner schools.
Rotherham United Community Sports Trust work with a number of schools across the Borough, with every school approached to enter. The competition was also open to the public and of course Junior Millers, with over 1,500 entries in total!
First Team Manager Paul Warne headed up the judging panel, along with a number of first team players including skipper Richard Wood, Will Vaulks, Ryan Williams, Jamie Proctor and Zak Vyner.
The competition was split in to two categories for both older and younger primary school aged children and six designs were selected. The winners included a back flipping Will Vaulks, a snowy AESSEAL New York Stadium, Richard Wood complete with magic hat and of course club mascot Miller Bear.
Each of the winners cards have been printed and given to the designers, who have also received Rotherham United prizes including signed footballs, tickets to fixtures and a family hospitality package.
“Trying to pick a winner from off all of the fantastic entries was so tough, the standard of the entries was excellent and we clearly have some budding artists across Rotherham. It is great to see so many entries and the work the Community Sports undertake is vital to our local community. The Premier League Primary Stars programme is key to this and with a teaching background myself, I know how powerful sport can be a tool to educate and I speak for everyone at the club when I say we fully support it” added First Team Manager Paul Warne.
“Once again the schools of Rotherham have done us proud and I know I speak for the Manager when I say deciding the winners was very difficult. The winning designs are unique in their own way and this is the start of many competitions we will run throughout the year. I am also keen to speak to any schools interested in working with us to access the Premier League Primary Stars programme, we are very lucky to have such supportive partners in the Premier League Charitable Fund and without them many of our projects would not be possible. For more information on Premier League Primary Stars please email sportdevelopment@rotherhamunited.net ” added Gary Webb, Operations Manager for Rotherham United Community Sports Trust.
