It was team talk they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.
Huddersfield Town manager Chris Powell is used to dealing with professionals playing in front of large crowds – but he dropped into Linthwaite Ardron C of E Junior and Infant School to talk to the youngsters and even stayed on to give the school’s football team a pep talk.
He’d responded to something of a ‘cheeky’ request from school headteacher Eelin Megson.
She said: “We are one of Huddersfield Town’s partner schools and Town ambassador Andy Booth had emailed the school at the start of the term to find out if the club could help us in any way. In the past they’d provided reading materials, signed footballs and Andy has talked at our assemblies.
“My husband Graham is a massive Town fan and knew Chris had just become manager so I emailed Andy and asked if he could get me Chris. Andy said it was doubtful as it’s not something a manager really does so he’d try to bring a first team player up but the next thing he contacted me to say Chris was coming himself.”
The school set up a special assembly for the 140 children from Year 2 to Year 6 and after Chris gave them a motivational speech he let them ask anything they wanted.
Mrs Megson added: “Chris came across so well. He seems to care about everyone and he’s a real team leader. He made time for everyone, never stopped smiling and he gave the kids high fives and autographs. He was so patient.
“When he spoke to our footballers he impressed on them the importance of playing as a team, not for themselves. They were hanging onto his every word. Thirty years from now they will still be telling their children about the day the Town manager gave them a team talk. Everyone left with a smile on their face.”
