Young fans meet footballers

Children at West Lynn Primary School were visited by five Lynn Town Football Club players and three members of the management team.

The event, which was organised by Linnets in the Community, saw footballers Gold Omotayo, Jacob Jones, Ben Stephens, Jordan Ponticelli and Christian Oxlade Chamberlain spend an afternoon with the pupils, alongside manager Tommy Widdrington, assistant manager Hugo Langton and first team coach Mark Hughes.

Youngsters from the West Norfolk Academies Trust school had the opportunity to question the visitors and some even enjoyed a kick-about with the players.

PE lead Becky Tuvey said: “It was a great opportunity for all of our children and something they hadn’t had the experience of before. The football club did a Q and A assembly with our Key Stage 1 children first, then with our Key Stage 2 children.

“Selected children from Years 3 and 4 took part in a football session with the players. Many said that they had been playing football since they were six-years-old and could first kick a ball.

“The manager said it was hard to choose a ‘best player’ as everyone has their own strengths. He reminded the children that football is a team game, and players rely on each other to be able to score goals.”

The visit was one of a series arranged by Linnets in the Community, which was established to strengthen links between the club and the West Norfolk community.

Community manager Jodie Hopkins, who organised the event, explained: “We want to provide opportunities for children to meet their town’s local heroes and understand that they are all normal people too.

“Linnets in the Community was set up to increase the club’s profile across the Lynn and West Norfolk region. We represent the club within the local and surrounding communities, acting as an extension of the club to engage with local people and make a genuine impact on their lives.

“Events like this are vital to us as a club and for the image we are creating of ourselves within the Lynn area.”

Got a story? Email newsdesk@lynnnews.co.uk