ROBERT Koren is today gearing up for a pivotal World Cup qualifying clash against Slovakia in Bratislava.

But before he joined up with the Slovenia national team, Koren took time out to support the Albion Foundation's IMPACT project at Nether Stowe School, Lichfield.

The Baggies midfielder joined staff and students at the St Chad's Road school to officially open their new family and business centre.

The centre boasts 25 state-of-the-art pieces of equipment, offering the very latest in information communication technology.

Steve Peace, director of specialism at Nether Stowe, said: "This room will be utilised by local businesses and schools, by family and extended school activities and by the Albion Foundation."

Slovenia skipper Koren was joined at the launch by Lichfield mayor Terry Thomas plus representatives from the Albion Foundation, local schools and business associates.

Nether Stowe works in partnership with the Albion Foundation through the IMPACT project.

Albion Foundation IMPACT coach Sam Buckle (pictured below) is permanently based at the school and delivers football-based literacy, numeracy and ICT sessions in a Baggies-branded classroom dedicated to the project.

The lessons are attended by pupils referred to Buckle by the school who have behavioural issues, suffer from low self-esteem or need help in improving their literacy and numeracy skills.

What makes Buckle's position unique is he also delivers football, basketball and badminton coaching sessions to the wider school audience in the shape of breakfast, lunchtime, after-school, Saturday morning and school-holiday clubs.

Ruth Poppleton, headteacher at Nether Stowe, said: "We are very proud of this new facility which will be used by the whole community.

"As a specialist school, it is important we share our resources with others and make IT accessible to all."