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A special visit from the Premier League

A special visit from the Premier League

Whitgift was delighted to welcome the Premier League today, accompanied by the iconic Premier League Trophy! 

The visit celebrated Jeriah (First Form), a U12 Academy player at Brighton & Hove Albion who won the Premier League Young Academy Writer of the Year competition. As part of his prize, the Premier League brought the prestigious trophy to Whitgift, giving the School a rare opportunity to see it up close. 

Jeriah shared “I was really excited to win the award, especially since it’s the first time the trophy has come to Whitgift—and probably the last time too! The whole community was very supportive, clapping for me when I walked into different rooms.” 

The day began with an exciting assembly for Lower First to Second Form students where Jeriah was presented with his award and a printed copy of his competition entry.  Jeriah continued his creative journey, expanding his winning entry into additional chapters, which have now been published as his own book Back in Time. 

A standout moment was a pre-recorded video of Jeriah reading his winning entry, offering a glimpse into the outstanding writing that earned him the award. The assembly also featured an interactive quiz where students guessed true or false facts about the Premier League and the Trophy.  

Following the assembly, First Form students enjoyed an inspiring workshop led by author Dan Freedman. Dan shared his journey into football writing, from match reports to writing official reports for the England football team. He recently published 50 Ways Into Football: Dream Jobs On and Off the Pitch, a book about football careers beyond playing with each First Form student receiving a signed copy. 

Throughout the day, staff and students had the opportunity to visit Big School, where the Premier League Trophy was proudly displayed for photos and admiration. 

Congratulations to Jeriah on his remarkable achievement, and many thanks to the Premier League for providing Whitgift with this once-in-a-lifetime experience!