Photo credit: Middlesbrough Football Club

Photo credit: Middlesbrough Football Club

Pupils score surprise visit from Middlesborough footballer

Frederick Nattrass Primary Academy were treated to a visit from Marcus Tavernier who was promoting Premier League Reading Stars

Posted by Lucinda Reid | March 24, 2018 | Sports & leisure

• #middlesborough-football-club
• #premier-league-reading-stars
• #northern-education-trust
• #frederick-nattrass-primary-school

Pupils of Frederick Nattrass Primary Academy, which is part of the Northern Education Trust, were surprised and delighted when Marcus Tavernier, an 18-year-old winger who plays for Middlesborough Football Club arrived at their school.

Marcus was there to promote the Premier League Reading Stars programme, which aims to inspire children to read, be active and develop important life skills by using the appeal of professional footballers.

As well as inspiring the children to read, Marcus helped the children to design new house badges for the recently introduced house points system.

The children shared their favourite books with the championship player, with many lucky enough to get their books personally autographed.

Emma Roffe, Principal at Frederick Nattrass, said: “As part of the Northern Education Trust we are always looking for new ways to inspire the children. Marcus Tavernier coming to the school to promote the Premier League Reading Stars programme was a great way to encourage the children.”

Marcus Tavernier, added: “It’s great to be involved with the work the foundation do within the local community. You can see the boost it gives them for one of the players to come in to their class, its lovely. They had some tough questions for me which was quite a surprise.”