By By Mark Orlovac · Wed 30 September 2026
Find out what being a part of this year's Premier League Primary Stars Football Tournament means to the players, teachers and coaches involved.
It was a day to remember for hundreds of schoolchildren as they took part in the latest Premier League Primary Stars Football Tournament earlier this summer.
Held at Molineux Stadium, the home of Wolverhampton Wanderers, school teams from across England and Wales came together to compete, have a taste of life as a top-flight footballer and celebrate the year-round work of the Premier League Primary Stars programme.
The teams were representing the 20 Premier League clubs from the 2025/26 season, with Codsall Middle School winning the mixed tournament for home side Wolves while Brighton & Hove Albion's Leechpool Primary School lifted the girls' tournament trophy.
And as pupils and teachers return for the new school year, find out what the event and the wider Premier League Primary Stars programme mean to those who took part.
Amber, Nottingham Forest
"Being here is incredible. We weren't expecting to make it this far. We travelled to Molineux on the first-team coach; it was so nice and very fancy! I wasn't expecting to have a table or padded seats. To be on the same coach as the players was really cool. My dad is a season-ticket holder at Nottingham Forest, he's here in the crowd and I think he's feeling really proud of me.
"When we were in the tunnel it was really scary because you don't know what's going to happen, it was really fun to have that experience. I was really nervous at the start but that turned to excitement once I started playing. I hope I can do it again at some point. It's a really special feeling.
"It makes me feel that I am good enough and that I can do anything everyone else can. This tournament makes girls believe they can do it. It's really good to get this opportunity to show that.
"I used to be scared of the ball but now that I have started playing with other people, I feel like I can do it. Premier League Primary Stars has helped a lot and now I am trying to find a team outside of school.
"I am really proud of everyone here that has started playing football and proud of those helping others to build up their confidence."
Mateus Mané, Wolves first-team winger, PUMA athlete
"I am really happy seeing children playing where I play every week. Hopefully one day they'll also get a chance to play here on the big stage.
"Tournaments like this make me think about the events I was involved in when I was younger. Going with my friends to play in tournaments with lots of other primary schools. It was amazing.
"It's that feeling that got me into football in the first place. That's why we play the game, that's why we love the game.
"Maybe it will give the pupils more self-belief and encourage them to not give up, even during tough moments. It might inspire them to think about the future and say 'one day I want to be here' and keep working until it happens. That might not necessarily be playing on the pitch, it could be in coaching, physiotherapy or journalism.
"It's really important that children have that belief but I don't want them to lose their freedom, their happiness to play the game, to enjoy themselves. It's definitely a memory that will last a lifetime."
Valencia, Sunderland
"It's really fun to play at a place like this. You see other players, you compete against other players and you see how good they are. I can work on my skills and learn more things about other teams and how they play.
"It makes me a better player. It gives me lots of confidence because if I'm playing lots of matches, I won't get nervous anymore.
"When I was in the tunnel I was thinking, 'I want to see things like this.' That's why I want to become a football player. It gives me the confidence to try to be one.
"It's a great opportunity. I am going to keep this experience in my head for a long time. When I grow old, I will say that I started here.
"When we get back to school, everybody's going to be cheering us. I'm going to feel really happy and proud of myself. We've done something that not many people have the chance to do."
Dan Barden, PE lead and Year 3 class teacher at Leechpool Primary, Brighton girls' team
"I remember when these girls started in reception. What an unbelievable way to send them off to secondary school. We will miss them a lot. I am very proud. To end it on this note is really emotional. They are a fantastic team. They train very, very hard. They're a tight group and are so supportive of each other.
"This is a huge platform for them to grow. They've done incredibly well to get this far and never did we imagine we'd be in this position. It's so inspiring for them and for the school as a whole. The experience of playing here will mean their confidence will go through the roof.
"As for the impact in our school, there will definitely be pupils who haven't been interested in football that might now think about taking it up because of these girls.
"That the Premier League are involved in setting up tournaments like this, that provide a place for the children to grow and perform, is fantastic. I never thought we'd get the opportunity to do something like this."
Louis, Leeds United
"Being here is crazy. I am so happy. Representing my hometown, I feel pride. It's just a brilliant feeling. I've been lucky enough to get this opportunity to play at a Premier League stadium. There's so much adrenaline. It is very special and I am very grateful.
"Coming out of the tunnel my heart rate was on another level! When I leave here, I'll be thinking that I want to go back. It's something else.
"It will give me a lot of confidence in the future. Anyone is lucky to have this experience. I'll remember it forever.
"It's my dream playing in the Premier League and this is step one. It's such a good thing that we're doing this for children all around the country to come together and have a massive tournament. It's been great and I am looking forward to telling everyone about it. Thank you."
Lola, Leechpool Primary School captain, Brighton & Hove Albion girls' team
"When we won I couldn't really think, I was just celebrating so much. I was so happy. Playing at a Premier League stadium is quite nerve-wracking but I feel like a professional footballer, it's really fun. Not many people get this opportunity.
"I have learned so much from playing in this tournament. I have seen so many good players, they are all so skilful. Having a tournament like this has made us feel really confident that we can do something like this again.
"Winning here just means so much. It shows what a team we are, how long we've played together and how hard we've tried."
Sidra, Aston Villa
"It's really fun playing here. I like how much space there is on the pitch, I play on the right wing so it gives me more room to dribble. When I am watching the matches, I can see how other players play and I can learn from them.
"I never would have thought that I would be playing at a place like this. It gives me an idea about what I can achieve.
"Walking out of the tunnel makes you feel like an actual professional player. I was excited and nervous at first but now I'm feeling really confident.
"Tournaments like this show that girls can play football and are good at it. It's important that girls are given the same opportunities as boys because girls and boys are basically the same at football. We're equal."
Heather Allen, Bede Academy assistant vice principal, Newcastle United mixed team
"I've tried for the last four years to get to these finals! Just seeing their faces this morning when they walked in, they're proud to wear the strip, they're proud to represent Newcastle and they're proud to represent us as a school, which is lovely.
"When they walked out of the tunnel, I cried. I'm crying now thinking about it! I was just so proud because for me, it's all about enjoying it, being here in the moment. Some of our children have had quite a lot to go through recently and for them to be here and forget everything that's going on outside and be part of something really special was amazing.
"Some of the boys struggle with anxiety so coming somewhere like this on a big stage with so many teams, it's going to boost their confidence and make them believe in themselves a little bit. It's going to make them realise that if they work hard, they will get rewarded; if they put their all into things, they can do anything.
"This is something they'll never forget. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it's probably going to be one of their favourite memories of primary school.
"Premier League Primary Stars has 100 per cent made an impact at our school. The whole school get involved when Newcastle United Foundation staff come in. Everyone wants to succeed, everyone wants to get stuck in. It's making a huge difference to all sorts of children.
"We have some children who maybe don't aspire to much, they're in a cycle of poverty but getting involved with Premier League Primary Stars means they enjoy school more, they've got aspirations, they want to do well and it makes them believe in themselves."
Edward, Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper
"I am feeling incredible. I am over the moon. In the penalty shootout I was trying my best. When I took my penalty, I missed, but I still had the belief that I could keep my team in it, and I did.
"That moment when we won, there are no words to describe how I was feeling. I don't know how I did it. That's all I could do. It was so tense. We missed penalties, they missed penalties, it was intense.
"It's a dream playing for Wolves at this stadium. Some of the best players in the world have stepped on to this pitch and now I'm playing on it. It's amazing. I'll never forget it. It's been an unbelievable day."
Anna Morphet, Wolves Women captain
"This is a wonderful occasion and it's a lovely thing to be part of. I've been very fortunate to play here over the years and it never loses that special feeling when you walk out of the tunnel. It's amazing.
"I hope it inspires the players to build a career in football and be confident in what they do. It will give them a sense of what they can achieve. It will make them want to go work hard and dream big.
"When I was their age, there wasn't anything nearly as incredible as this put on. The Premier League making a pathway and experience for these young people shows them they're important - hopefully it makes them proud to be a part of today.
"If they decide to pursue a career in football, they might look back on this moment and see a place where they felt confident, they were good enough, they believed in themselves. That's just as important as whoever wins or loses these tournaments.
"Watching this, I feel a lot of pride in the game I'm a part of. It's just wonderful to see and it's what the football community is about."
Akram Sempala, Ambler Primary School learning support assistant, Arsenal girls' team
"It has been quite the journey for us. Last year we went to the qualifying tournament and we fell just short. The girls are very proud to be here. We're representing the school, we're representing Arsenal and we're having fun doing it.
"I've been with this group for a few years now, their confidence has grown, they've matured and they've bonded really well as a team.
"It's a very proud moment seeing them on the pitch. Regardless of what happens in the tournament, I want them to have as much fun as they can. That's the win for me.
"This is something that will carry on with them throughout life. It's an experience that not many people get to have.
"It will raise aspirations. It will really show them that if they put in the hard work, they can go on to do well in things that they put their minds to."
Read Akram and Ambler Primary School's full story here >>
Marcus, Brighton & Hove Albion
"Coming through the qualifiers to make it here is tough and tense. It's a great achievement to play here at an event like this. It's hard to describe what it is like.
"To qualify you just feel great about yourself because you beat all these other teams and some of the best children in the country. It will give me loads of confidence.
"I scored in our first game and it felt amazing because it's in a Premier League stadium and not many people get that chance.
"When I leave here I am going to think about all the good things and all the bad things that I did so I can improve. I'm going to tell the story about this day for quite a few years."
Jelani, social media star and content creator
"Seeing what the Premier League is doing, allowing these players to get that professional experience, it's amazing. Being a part of this will change their lives. It's showing children that anything is possible.
"Everyone is from different backgrounds. It helps young people feel included. It helps show them that things like this are available to them.
"Knowing that you are part of something and that you are welcome is one of the best feelings. The Premier League is giving these children something that they probably wouldn't have dreamt about even in their wildest dreams."
Lianne Bradford, Burnley FC in the Community education manager
"It's an incredible event. It's providing opportunities for children that would never have an opportunity to play at a Premier League stadium.
"Seeing our two Premier League Primary Stars schools teams here grow and flourish through working with them and providing them with this opportunity consolidates what we're delivering in our schools and also we give a little bit back to our primary schools that buy into everything we do.
"It's creating a core memory. This is something that they will never, ever forget. It's a life-changing opportunity for them.
"There'll be a lot of clubs here that are of very similar demographic to what we are in Burnley. A lot of our young people are from working class backgrounds and we're in one of the top five most deprived areas in the country.
"To be able to provide this for those children, maybe some of them haven't even left their home towns, it's really impactful. It expands horizons.
"This is one of my favourite parts of my job, being able to provide these opportunities for children that will make them feel good about themselves.
"For me, Premier League Primary Stars means making a difference. This programme is why we are all here today, we have made the impossible, possible."
Alex Tatton, PE teacher at Codsall Middle School, Wolves mixed team
"We are so proud of them. The resilience they showed during the penalty shootout in the final was phenomenal.
"I've been a teacher for 10 years and this is 100 per cent the most proud I've been. Just seeing the boys work so hard for each other and to come out the winners is outstanding.
"The memories they have made are going to last them a lifetime. How often do you get the chance to experience something like this? They will take away plenty of confidence, self-esteem and pride in themselves.
"Premier League Primary Stars is a brilliant programme. At school we talk about the programme's values, like resilience, teamwork, communication and not always about the results or about how well they've played on the pitch. It's the other side of it, the core values that they can put into their everyday lives and their schoolwork, it’s really important."
30/09/2026
30/09/2026
30/09/2026
30/09/2026