Pupils from Crockett’s Community Primary School enjoyed an inspiring day of literacy, creativity and football‑themed learning at The Hawthorns as part of the Premier League Primary Stars Club Author Day.
Delivered in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, The Albion Foundation welcomed pupils and poet Paul Cookson into The Millichip Suite for a full programme of interactive reading and writing activities designed to build confidence, imagination and a lifelong love of literacy.
A standout moment came during a lively performance poetry workshop led by Paul. Through humour, rhythm and group participation, he encouraged pupils to experiment with different forms of poetry while sharing some of his own work. Pupils worked together in small groups to create their poems, performing them collectively with Paul’s encouragement and humour helping to motivate them and make the experience fun.
Alongside the poetry workshop, pupils took part in Reading Stars activities delivered by Active Lifestyles Community Coach Craig Wilson. Using football‑themed challenges, the session helped develop reading and comprehension in a fun, engaging environment that connected literacy with pupils’ everyday interests.
The visit also included a behind‑the‑scenes tour of The Hawthorns. For many pupils, it was their first time inside a football stadium, offering a unique insight into the different roles and pathways that exist within the sport beyond becoming a player.
Mrs Azmi, from Crockett’s Community Primary School, praised the impact of the experience, saying the group had been “blown away” by the opportunities the day provided. As a Smethwick resident and West Bromwich Albion supporter, she described the visit as a real honour and highlighted how meaningful it was for pupils who dream of becoming footballers to step inside a professional stadium for the first time. She also emphasised the value of showing children the wide range of careers available within football.
Teaching Assistant Mr Maxwell shared how much the pupils enjoyed the storytelling and hands‑on activities throughout the day. He added that the experience had likely created “a few more Albion fans” among the group.
Reflecting on the wider impact, Mrs Azmi explained how experiences like Club Author Day support the school’s motto, “Unlocking Futures”. She shared that opportunities like this help children see the possibilities available to them and introduce them to a world they can aspire to be part of in the future.
The Albion Foundation would like to thank the National Literacy Trust, Paul Cookson and Crockett’s Community Primary School for helping make Club Author Day a memorable and inspiring experience for all involved.
