Foundation laid for successful Cup day
THE third annual Foundation 1892 Cup took place at the Newcastle United Academy.
One hundred and twenty eight local primary school children participated in the tournament.
Each received a full 2018/19 home strip - making them the first chidren in the region to wear the new Newcastle United colours.
Nine partner primary schools from across the North East fielded eight-a-side boys and girls teams, comprising year three and year four children aged seven to nine.
Pupils from Riverside Primary, Cambois Primary, St George’s RC Primary, Holystone Primary, Ponteland Primary, Grange Primary, West Walker Primary, Walkergate Primary and Westgate Hill Primary arrived at the ground to be presented with their new kit donated by PUMA and Newcastle United.
After an afternoon of nail-biting games it was Cambois who took home the trophy in the boys’ tournament, beating a strong Ponteland side in the final.
Ponteland defeated West Walker in the girls’ tournament.
The surprises kept on coming with Magpies’ legend Shola Ameobi making an appearance.
The biggest cheer, however, was reserved for United manager Rafa Benítez who presented the winners’ trophies before the day was rounded off with a celebration barbecue.
The Foundation has worked with more than 38,000 children at 173 schools across Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside and Northumberland in the last year.
Head of the Foundation Kate Bradley said: “The Foundation 1892 Cup is a wonderful annual event which everyone always looks forward to.
“It is brilliant to be able to invite some of our partner schools to enjoy this special experience.
“To have Rafa Benitez’s continued support for a third year is hugely appreciated.
“I would like to thank him for taking the time to join us and meet the teams.
“I would also like to thank Newcastle United, the Academy and Puma for their generous support and the schools for helping make this such a great day.”
For more details on becoming a partner school contact Liam Atkin at liam.atkin@nufc.co.uk.