Young football fanatics at a St Albans secondary school had the chance to quiz Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey recently, when he paid a surprise visit.
While the Welshman was at Marlborough Science Academy, Watling Street, he cheered on the school’s U15 football team as they played St Bonaventure’s RC School.
Unfortunately Marlborough were defeated 5-0 by their opponents, who won last season’s London Cup.
Aaron, 23, said: “It was fantastic to support grassroots football first-hand.
“I still look back and hold incredible memories of representing my school football team when I was younger, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without that experience.”
Paul Cockram, the school’s PE faculty teacher, said: “It was an amazing surprise for all the pupils to have Aaron with us to cheer on the school football team.
“The only challenge was returning to normality the next day.”
Pupils also took part in a question and answer session with the midfielder, who joined the Gunners from Cardiff city in 2008, aged just 17.
Aaron was at Marlborough as part of the PlayStation Schools’ Cup road-show.
Last year Sony Computer Entertainment UK announced its partnership with the English Schools’ Football Association (ESFA) to create the PlayStation Schools’ Cup.
The grassroots programme enables the association to strengthen and increase secondary school competitions for boys and girls from the U12 to U15 age categories.
Pupils sharpened their skills with help from two professional ESFA coaches.
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