Students honoured to meet legend Sir Bobby

Official launch of the Manchester United Foundation partnership at Oldham Academy North.Sir Bobby Chalton with pupils Yassir Kassim and Rakib Miah.

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

ENGLAND World Cup hero Sir Bobby Charlton inspired a new generation of footballers when he visited Oldham Academy North.

The former Manchester legend was at the Royton secondary with his wife, Norma, to officially launch its partnership with the Manchester United Foundation.

During a tour of the school they saw a PE lesson, an art exhibition and performances by dancers and the school choir.

Head of art, Mike Fox, also presented Sir Bobby - who won the World Cup in 1966 and captained the United team that won the European Cup in 1968 - with a hand-painted picture of him in action during his footballing days.

Oldham Academy North is one of 20 schools in the foundation's partner school programme, which bases full-time coaches in schools to work with pupils, local primary schools and the local community.

It started at the academy in June and Rob Field from the foundation runs mentoring and leadership programmes, lunch-time clubs and activities for primary school pupils. He also coaches the academy's first girls football team and helps PE staff train the school's other football teams.

Head teacher Martin Knowles said: "The vibe was incredible and so many students and staff were in awe. To have someone of that stature show that if you work hard you can achieve anything is fantastic."

"We're in the early stages of our partnership but it's already having a huge effect; our Year 8 and 9 football teams are winning after being coached by the foundation, we now have a girls football team and we are looking to collaborate with other foundation partner schools to give more experiences to young people."

Year 11 students Hanifah Begum and Rahimur Rahman were chosen to show Sir Bobby around.

Rahimur said: "It was a great honour to meet a legend."