The Academy of Football were proud to take part in National Playday 2021 on Wednesday 4 August.
A group of U9s and U10s took part in a warm-up which involved a game of ‘It’ and ‘Bulldog’, affording our youngsters the opportunity to take some time away from football and play with their teammates.
The session was co-ordinated by Academy Head of Safeguarding Laura Osborne-Smith as part of the Academy’s continued aim of providing holistic development for all players, both on and off the pitch.
The session also took place in conjunction with the age strand of West Ham United’s Equality and Diversity programme, allowing members of Any Old Irons to put forward some of their favourite school games.
Playday is the annual national day for play in the UK, coordinated by Play England, Play Wales, Play Scotland and PlayBoard Northern Ireland. The 2021 theme, Summer of Play, recognises the challenges children and young people have faced over the past year and the need to enjoy time for play with their friends, having fun. Families and carers are being encouraged to celebrate children’s right to play in their local communities.