Football’s coming home! School’s 182-year wait to stage a game finally over
A SCHOOL nearashbourne is preparing to make history this week when it hosts a competitive football fixture on home soil for the first time in its 182year existence.
The boys’ and girls’ Lionnesses teams at Mugginton C of E Primary School will welcome opponents from Markeaton Primary School to the village cricket club on Friday.
The reason the school, which has a register of only 47 pupils, is yet to stage such an occasion in almost two centuries is a straightforward one – it does not have its own sports field.
Because of this the primary has always, until now, had to travel to other schools to fulfil fixtures.
Joe Green, Mugginton head teacher, said: “I’m delighted we can finally give our children the opportunity to play a competitive sports fixture here in Mugginton.
“I’m equally delighted that it’s both our girls’ and boys’ teams that have the honour of being the history makers.
“We are sports mad at Mugginton and love PE, all sports and running in the village every week.
“Unfortunately, we do not have a field and have always had to ask parents to transport children to other schools to play competitive fixtures.
“I can’t wait to see everybody’s faces when we finally play at home – it will be a really special day for everybody in our community.”
Much has changed since the school first opened in 1840.
New Zealand was established as a British colony, the foundation stone of Nelson’s Column was laid in Trafalgar Square and child chimney sweeps were outlawed on these shores.
More recently, however, we have seen the success of the England Lionesses at this summer’s European Championships, which they won by beating Germany 2-1 at Wembley.
It has kick-started a surge of interest among pupils wanting to get involved with the game.
Year Six pupil Charlotte Tatham is captain of the Mugginton Lionesses.
She said: “It is a long wait but we are so pleased to be doing it.
“We love playing football and it will be brilliant to be able to play in front of our teachers and parents.”
Friday’s spectacle is expected to be followed by a series of other games, with the school’s teams desperate to boast home advantage as often as possible.
Mugginton is also fundraising to overhaul its playground facilities.
This is after the costs of refurbishments spiralled after the Covid-19 pandemic.