Last night I attended Stanley Park High School’s first “Sports Personality of the Year Awards”. I enjoyed myself too much to take photos so you’ll have to make do with one cobbled together from the internet. Robbie Earle was the special guest presenting awards to the many children who had excelled over the last year at everything from football to table tennis. They took pride in getting their medals, trophies and certificates from the former Wimbledon football player. A member of the nineties team known as the “Crazy Gang”, he went on to represent Jamaica at the World Cup scoring their first ever goal against Croatia. He now writes for the Evening Standard and is a pundit on ITV’s Champions League programme. That’s quite a list of accomplishments for the kids to look up to.

The event was really well attended by proud parents and children. We saw displays from trampolinists, gymnasts and dancers. Interestingly gymnastics is the fastest growing sport at the school, helped along by a £10,000 award which bought plenty of equipment. If the new school is built on the Orchard Hill site, more playing fields and better facilities will encourage even more children to take part and acheive great things or at least keep healthy and have fun.