'PL Primary Stars tournament will stay with children forever'

Schoolchildren from across England and Wales are this week creating lifelong memories in the latest Premier League Primary Stars football tournament.

The two-day event not only gives boys and girls the unique experience of representing their local team and playing at a Premier League stadium, it also celebrates the work of 104 clubs in delivering PL Primary Stars throughout the year.

For the first time, the PL Primary Stars football tournament is taking place at the Gtech Community Stadium, the home of Brentford FC.

Here Bevan Vincent, Brentford FC Community Sports Trust's PL Primary Star co-ordinator, explains what the tournament and the programme means to him.

"I experienced my first PL Primary Stars football tournament at Watford in 2022. It was the first time I had seen anything like it. 

"There were people on the pitch playing, with music going, and the looks on all the kids faces, it was the most amazing thing.

"It's such a great opportunity for us to showcase our stadium, our local people and bring it all together to host something as amazing as this.

"On the day, people can expect to see a lot of talent but the most important thing is the experience of it all, enjoying it and understanding that it'll be a once-in-a-lifetime event.

"When these children are talking to their grandkids, they're going to say that they played at the Gtech Community Stadium one day and walked out of that tunnel.

"Something like this is beyond inspiring. It will give them memories that will last a lifetime and will give those who are leaving junior school that extra boost as well going into secondary school.

"This is far more than football. It's more about the holistic element of PL Primary Stars. It's about being better people. Making sure that they understand what it is to be a good person, to do the right things.

"We had about 100 schools taking part in our qualifying events and the excitement of the tournament has trickled down to them too.

"When I sit and watch the children at the stadium, what will hit me is that feeling of enjoyment with every single child. It doesn't matter if they are winning or even playing every game. They enjoy it, so you enjoy it. That's why I love it so much.

"They won't appreciate it until they're in secondary school and they'll realise what they have done.

"This is something that will be with them forever."

Check out the behind the scenes with the pupils from Strand on the Green Junior School here.