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Primary Star is referee's mascot against Brighton

Shakira, a Palace for Life participant, was chosen to be the referee's mascot for the Premier League match against Brighton in December.

Palace for Life were offered an exciting opportunity for one participant to become an EA Sports Referee Mascot.

Shakira, a year 5 pupil at Ark Oval Primary School, was chosen by our Girls Primary School Officer, Charlie Spencer, who has been running a Premier League Primary Stars Girls extra-curricular programme for Upper KS2. Mascots were chosen if they had consistently displayed the Premier League value of ‘Be Fair’. Charlie Spencer said “I chose Shakira because she always showed a great level of effort and enthusiasm in all the sessions, and was always keen to help others”.

Shakira was a mascot for our derby game, against Brighton on the 16th December 2019. She was provided a mascots kit by EA Sports and described the experience as ‘very, very fun’, and explained “we had to run around half the pitch and go through the tunnel to meet the players and I went with the referee, which was fun because I got to take the ball”.

On being asked what it was like to walk onto the pitch, she said “I found it fun, but I was also scared because there was lots of people, and everyone cheered”.

Shakira also said she was shocked to receive this opportunity “It’s strange because I never expected it, because never in any of the clubs I went to, I’ve never had anything like it. But I was also shocked that I was picked to go out of all the girls”.

Shakira went on to say “I am very happy I joined this club, and also because I got to meet Coaches Charlie and Raya. I enjoyed it a lot this term”.

Shakira’s mother, Toni, showed her gratitude to the Foundation for the experience “We really enjoyed it, she was lucky, and we are very grateful. It was a good experience for her, and one that not many get, so thank you very much, we really appreciated it, we had a good time, so thank you”.

You can find out more about our girls football offerings here.

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