Pupils from special needs schools on Teesside battle it out in 5-a-side competition

by Lyndsay Oxley

View gallery

Ian McIntyre

Pictures: Priory Woods School and Arts College 5-a-side event

View gallery

Pupils from special needs schools in the Teesside area battled it out in their own football competition.

Over 70 children took part in the 5-a-side event which was held at Priory Woods School and Arts College in Middlesbrough.

The event which is the second of its kind to be held at the school was split into two separate competitions which were defined by the children’s abilities.

They were cheered on by Middlesbrough Football Club’s mascot, Roary the Lion.

Children and staff enjoyed stepping in the shoes of the mascot cheering on the participants.

Two Middlesbrough FC coaches also attended the event, giving advice on how to run the fun-filled day.

Richard Walker, a teaching assistant at the school who organised the event said: “The children love football. It was nice to get them out together in such good spirits.”

A fun day also took place alongside the football event.

The children enjoyed taking part in the ‘throw a sponge at the teacher’ game as well as face painting and stalls selling items made by the pupils in the enterprise department.

The winning teams were presented with a trophy at the end of the day.

Mr Walker said: “This year we tried to make it better than last year. Next year we hope to make it even bigger by getting more schools involved.”