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Racism gets the red card

Jo Rostron
24/11/2006

KICKING out racism was the name of the game for schools in Cheetham Hill.

Temple Primary School, on Smedley Lane and St Chad's RC Primary School, on Balmfield Street came together for the football themed project to promote community relations.

A special assembly was held at Temple Primary, which is predominantly Muslim, and attended by pupils from St Chad's, which is predominantly Catholic.

It was held to show off what has been achieved in the six-week joint project, funded through a £1,000 grant.

During the assembly the children explained what they had learned about Ramadan and the Holy Communion, and looked at key figures like Nelson Mandela.

They explored African culture, including dance and music, as pupils have now become pen pals to a group of school children in Ghana.

Students also performed role play where they took on the parts of inspirational football icons, like Hope Powell, the first black manager to take charge of an England team, with help from former Manchester City goalkeeper Alex Williams.

St Chad's then hosted a 'corresponding fixture' with their own assembly.

June Kelly, a learning mentor at Temple Primary, said: "Many of the children live in the same streets but have never really done much together.

"We talked about how football unites people and how Premiership teams have players from all over the world."

Pupils from the schools visited Stockport County where they formed a guard of honour for the players coming on the pitch two weeks ago.

On Saturday they were at Manchester City to display banners and posters they have made and on November 24 the Friendship Football tournament takes place where one pupil from each participating school plays on each team. The idea is for students to play with new people and make new friends, rather than sticking to the usual school teams.