A much-loved former footballer and broadcaster has visited a North Yorkshire school where a class was named after him.
Ex-Leeds United and Middlesbrough midfielder Chris Kamara spent the morning at Sharow Church of England Primary School to talk to pupils about his life and career after hearing how a class was named in his honour last year.
Teachers and pupils had decided to name classes after well-known sports heroes who had triumphed over adversity, had picked Chris for the Year Three and Four class.
And today, Chris was given a tour of the school, near Ripon, and spoke to pupils.
Chris said:
I thought what a wonderful school it must be to name a class after me.
Anybody can say whatever they want about anybody, but if in your heart and in your head you’ve got desire and want to be somebody, you can be somebody.
He talked about his early life in Middlesbrough, joining the Navy, his football career and his broadcasting career with Sky Sports.
Pupils asked a raft of questions including about his favourite footballers, the most famous person he has met and the number of goals he scored.
And he offered pupils advice about their futures and following their own goals.
Sharow headteacher Jacqui Palmer said the school was delighted to invite Chris to the school:
We had named a class after Chris because he’s such an inspirational character.
And it was wonderful for the staff and pupils to hear from him today and the story of his life.
Our children got to hear how he has triumphed even when everything has not gone to plan for him and he gave them some great advice.
We were thrilled to have him visit our school.
