Millwall AP Academy Elite students from Conisborough College got a unexpected big surprise to remember when they were brought back to school early from their elite football and education day release programme at the Lion Centre last term. As on arrival to recognise their hard work and commitment on the programme school and MCT staff, their parents along with Millwall 1st team stars Alex Pearce and Jed Wallace were there waiting for them along with their whole year group to formally present them with their long awaited Millwall kit and uniform and recognise their progress and hard work thus far. Since September the trust in partnership with Conisborough College has been delivering a 1 day a week football industry education programme with the Colleges elite football players as part of their full-time education curriculum with trust providing the colleges elite year 10 pupils offsite vocational football industry experience coupled with sport industry recognised qualifications delivered within the Lions Centre, St Paul’s stadium and also the MIllwall FC stadium. The programme was set up to help support aspirational sporting talent within the college and encourage and promote academic success. On the day unbeknown to the students plans had already been put in place by the trust’s AP Academy staff and the colleges staff to commerate the students hard work by inviting their parents in secret along with their year 10 peers to witness Millwall 1st team stars Alex Pearce and Jed Wallace give out their long awaited and deserved Millwall uniform as well as listen to the Millwall stars speak candidly to the whole year group about the sacrifices it takes to be successful and to achieve their individual ambitions in life. Students also got to see themselves in a Millwall video which was done earlier in their term with Aiden O’Brien who had previously attended the programme as mentor to the group Mrs Hadlow Conisborough Headteacher said of the event “It was important that not just our elite students but our whole year group heard the important sacrifices and hard work that are often needed to be successful not just solely in football but also in life in general. The students had no idea what they were coming back for and it was fantastic to see not just their reaction but also that of their parents and family members who had attended on the day” Paul Dyer Conisborough College Sport Inclusion Officer and Elite group co-ordinator said “Feedback from the students, their peers, parents and staff has been really positive and something the students were really taken a back with, and to have players such as Alex and Jed attend the school and speak is fantastic and testament to the partnership we have with the trust. John Scarborough Education & Employability Manager “Days like this are what we as a trust exist and work for. To create special unique moments not just of celebration but also opportunity for reflection on what it takes to achieve our goals be it football, work or at school. The students have been an absolute credit to their school since joining our programme, and are also crucially aware of their responsibility within their school in promoting the key positive messages we work on with them when they are with us One Parent summed up the day: “I am a millwall season ticket holder and to see my child up there being acknowledged by Alex and Jed for their hard work is absolutely brilliant, inspirational for them, and proud day for us as a family. Their day release to Millwall has become their best day of the week and is also importantly helping them remain focused on their school work”