BBC School Report: Students invited to report on their football team

With the football season well underway, the collaboration between BBC School Report, BBC Sport and BBC Local Radio is offering all UK secondary schools and young people aged 11-16 the chance to share their passion, knowledge and stories about their local football teams with BBC audiences.

Whether their My Team report is about the club that their family supports, the fact that they’ve never missed a game, or about someone they know from the local football ground – no story is too big or too small – BBC School Report wants to hear from as many people as possible.

BBC Sport presenters have also been sharing their stories.

Dan Walker, presenter BBC Football Focus says: “My team are Crawley Town of League Two. That’s where I’m from.

"My dad first took me to go and see them in the late 1980’s. We stood on the terraces and watched Crawley leading Merthyr Tydfil in an FA Cup qualifying game by 2 goals to 0 and somehow managing to lose 3-2. But I was hooked from that stage. We were playing non-league football in the Beazer Homes Premier Division and the Southern Premier, and we worked our way all the way up to League One a few years ago. But now I think we’ve round about found our level at League Two.

"I love the club, I go there as often as I can and I try and see them when they’re playing in the northern half of England. They are my team. The mighty Crawley Town, the proper Red Devils.”

Jessica Creighton, BBC Sport reporter says: “One of the teams that’s really close to my heart is Charlton Athletic Women. I used to play for them when I was a little bit younger, they were my local team and it’s not just the place where I learnt to fall in love with the beautiful game, football, it’s also where I learnt a lot about life.

"I learnt about team work, I learnt about connecting with people and I learnt about winning and losing gracefully - in a way. Those skills that I learnt playing football have helped me so much in my life, and in my career. Had I not played for Charlton Athletic Women, I don’t think I’d be where I am today.”

Stories can be submitted by sending a 60 second video or audio clip or writing to us (maximum 250 words) at schoolreportuploads@bbc.co.uk

To get involved and find out more go to bbc.co.uk/schoolreport

Notes to Editors

• BBC School Report gives students from the ages of 11-16 across the UK, the opportunity to research and produce their own news reports and deliver these to BBC audiences.
• In its tenth year, after starting in 2006 as a pilot with 120 secondary schools, the scheme is run by journalists and mentors who share a similar passion for finding out about things and telling others about them; and gives young people across the UK to learn about journalism and develop skills and confidence.
• Since it began more than 200,000 students and 2,000 schools have taken part.

HM3

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• Turning the camera on the BBC School Reporters