Young footballers set for a fantastic afternoon at The Keep Cup

Pupils from across The Keep Learning Trust schools got their football boots on recently for The Keep Cup, the first in an exciting annual Trust-wide sports tournament, which this year tookplace at Gigg Lane Stadium on Thursday 4 June.

The event brought together children from all The Keep Learning Trust schools - Elton, Old Hall, Radcliffe, Park View and Greenmount Primary School - along with Mersey Drive Community Primary School, for an afternoon of football, fun and friendly competition.

Hosted at the home of Bury FC, the tournament was organised to give pupils the opportunity to build confidence, enjoy healthy competition and celebrate being part of the wider Trust community. The afternoon encouraged sportsmanship, resilience and positive relationships between schools.

David Stephens, CEO of The Keep Learning Trust, said: “We are really looking forward to bringing our schools together for The Keep Cup on an annual basis. Events like this are such a brilliant opportunity for children to have fun, represent their schools and create lasting memories with their friends and peers from across the Trust. Sport plays such an important role in building confidence, resilience and teamwork, and it was wonderful to see the children enjoying the experience at such a fantastic venue.”

Gigg Lane Stadium provided a wonderful setting for the tournament and an exciting opportunity for pupils to play in a historic football ground with a capacity of almost 12,000. For many children, this was their first experience playing at a professional stadium, making the occasion even more memorable.

The tournament focused on participation, enjoyment and fair play, with all matches taking place in a friendly and supportive environment. Pupils were encouraged to show respect and sportsmanship throughout the afternoon, helping to create a positive experience both on and off the pitch.

Mt Stephens added: “Of course, while the focus is firmly on fun, we know there were one or two competitive teachers quietly hoping their school lifted the trophy at the end of the day! However, Greenmount Primary School emerged victorious and we must say a huge well done to the winners, and to every player for their determination and good sportsmanship.”

Children from across the Keep Learning schools had nothing but praise for the day, with comments such as:

“It was amazing to play on my dream stadium for the club I support and playing a tournament against others in a proper stadium.”

“It was fun to play against all the other schools and act like it was the World Cup!”

“I had a great time playing football against the other schools in the trust. I was an experience to play at Gigg Lane as I love football.”

“It was a great experience to play at Gigg Lane as we could communicate with other children from the trust.”

The event forms part of The Keep Learning Trust’s commitment to providing enriching opportunities beyond the classroom and bringing pupils together through shared experiences.