Academy players put their storytelling skills into practice for World Book Day

To celebrate World Book Day today (Thursday 1 March), the Club’s Under-18 Academy scholars visited a local primary school to read popular children’s stories to six, seven and eight-year olds.

Jubril Okedina, Dilan Markanday and Jamie Bowden, supported by professional story-teller and writer Tony Dallas, read stories to Year 2 and Year 3 pupils at Brook House Primary School in Tottenham.

As well as developing talent for the First Team, the Academy is committed to ensuring all scholars have the necessary skills and education to enable them to achieve success on and off the pitch. Reading sessions improve vocational skills such as public speaking and presentation skills.

Before going into the school, all Academy scholars completed a storytelling training course lead by Dallas, who has worked with the Club for over 10 years. Here they learned techniques of how to tell a good story including talking in different accents, changing their tone of voice and acting out parts of the story to capture children’s imagination.

The Club is marking World Book Day across eight local schools by holding special assemblies, delivering reading sessions and gifting schools with boxes full of books for pupils to read.

John McDermott, Head of Academy Coaching and Player Development, said: “Reading sessions like these are a great example of how the Club is helping all our scholars have a rounded education. Being able to speak in public and present with confidence are both key skills that are needed in jobs both in and out of football. It’s brilliant to see our Academy apprentices grow and develop, while giving local school children a memorable experience on World Book Day.”

Aaron Wright, Head Teacher at Brook House Primary School, said: “Having the Tottenham Hotspur Academy players at the school to celebrate World Book Day has been great fun. The children loved the energy and enthusiasm that the scholars brought to the classroom and we hope experiences like this encourage the kids to continue reading and exploring the pleasures of books.”