Wellfield to represent SAFC at Enterprise Play-Offs

Pupils from Wellfield School have won the chance to represent Sunderland AFC at this year’s Premier League Enterprise Challenge Play-Offs having beaten 11 teams to the opportunity. The Challenge saw Year 9 and 10 students tasked to come up with initiatives to encourage diversity and make going to a match the most enjoyable experience set by Premier League Executive Chairman Richard Scudamore. Team 'Mini Whiskers' from Wellfield impressed the panel of judges including SAFC Supporter Liaison Officer Chris Waters, Foundation of Light Head of Communications James Burman, Caterpillar UK's Scott Phillips and Chris Towers from Newcastle College with their well-thought out concept of helping parents of younger children enjoy live football.

It feels really good to win. It was nerve-wracking doing our presentation and there were so many great groups so we're quite surprised that we won. Going to Liverpool is a great opportunity. We all know we've got a lot to work on but we know we'll get it done. We're confident. It's very important to work on programmes like this along with our studies because it works on skills you don't work on in lessons.

Team Mini Whiskers, Wellfield School

After announcing the winning team, James Burman said: "What was most impressive about the event was the ideas that the youngsters came up with. Presentation skills and how to put together a slide show are all things that can be taught but creativity is quite different and can often be the hardest part of these challenges. "I’d like to offer a huge congratulations to all of those who took part and despite there only being one winner there was plenty for the other teams to be proud of." The Premier League Enterprise Challenge, is the national competition element of the Premier League’s enterprise programme which began in 2009 and which is run in partnership with Sport Relief. Over 30 Premier League and English Football League clubs have entered this year’s Challenge and will be represented at six Play-Off events in January. These Play-Off’s will be taking place at Anfield (Liverpool), the King Power Stadium (Leicester City) and St Mary’s Stadium (Southampton).