A team of Year 9 students from The Emmbrook School, supported by Reading FC Community Trust, have achieved national recognition after being named Premier League Inspires Challenge National Champions.
The students winning team emerged victorious from a national field of 53 professional football club programmes during an event held at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium. Their success capped off an inspiring journey that combined creativity, teamwork and personal development.
The design earned national acclaim after the Emmbrook School group first won their regional heat of the Premier League Inspires Challenge – a nationwide personal development programme delivered by the Premier League and its club charities to support young people through education, creativity and sport.
As part of the challenge, students designed eye‑catching warm‑up shirts that were proudly worn by Reading FC’s men’s first team ahead of their April home fixture against Cardiff City FC. The bespoke designs focused on promoting confidence and body positivity, delivering a powerful message to supporters and players alike.
The project was delivered in collaboration with Macron, a valued club partner, whose support helped transform the students’ ideas from concept to matchday reality.
This national title highlights the positive impact of football-led community initiatives and showcases how young people can use sport as a platform to express meaningful messages and develop skills for the future
Nick McSweeney, headteacher at The Emmbrook School, said: “I am incredibly proud of our Year 9 students for the creativity, commitment and maturity they showed throughout this competition.
“They embraced the challenge with enthusiasm, worked collaboratively, and delivered a message of confidence and body positivity with real impact. Being crowned National Champions against such strong competition is an outstanding achievement and a testament to their hard work, talent and determination.
“They have been excellent ambassadors for The Emmbrook School.”
Shelley Strange, Premier League inspires manager from Reading FC Community Trust, said: “From the very beginning, the girls have been incredible. Watching them grow in confidence, step outside of their comfort zones, and really take ownership of their project has been a pleasure.”
“They’ve developed so many new skills throughout this journey, and what’s been most impressive is seeing them put those skills into practice in real-life situations. Whether that’s presenting, collaborating, or leading conversations, they’ve embraced every opportunity.”
“For some of them, even being away from home for a night was a big step—but they handled it with maturity and confidence. To then go on and deliver interviews for the Premier League at the event shows just how far they’ve come.”
“One of the standout moments was seeing them confidently explain their project to other young people and Premier League Staff throughout the day. They spoke with passion, clarity, and pride—it was amazing to watch.”
“This is exactly what Premier League Inspires is all about—empowering young people, building confidence, and giving them the tools and experiences that will stay with them for life. The girls should be incredibly proud of everything they’ve achieved.”
