Saddlers first-team stars Taylor Allen and Brandon Comley visited St Michael’s C of E Primary School ahead of this weekend’s Walsall FC School Partners Game.
The initiative, run by Walsall FC Foundation, has seen a record number of 1982 tickets sold, with 49 schools across the Borough taking part.
This is the second time the record has been smashed this season, following 1888 tickets sold for the first School Partners Game in November.
The initiative has been running since 2007, and offer tickets at one-off reduced prices for school children to inspire the next generation of Walsall fans.
Since its inception, the scheme has sold over 38,000 tickets, with more than £19,000 given as cashback to local schools.
Joe Roberts, Head of Education at Walsall FC Foundation, said: “We’re delighted to see another record number of tickets sold for Saturday’s School Partners Game.
“Over the two games this season we’ve had nearly 4000 tickets through Walsall schools, our most ever, as we strive to engage with families and the next generation of Saddlers supporters.
“We’re excited to see a number of children and families for the Wimbledon match this weekend, many who will be attending their first game through this offer.
“The atmosphere should be fantastic, with a bumper crowd for the big game, and I hope for many of these young people it will be the first of many!”
St Michael’s is a primary school in Pelsall, and had the most engagement of any Walsall school, with 138 tickets sold.
Allen and Comley surprised the pupils this week, joining an assembly and Q&A with the pupils, before taking photos and signing items for some excited families.
Taylor Allen said: “It was really good to have the kids asking questions and realise that we are normal people like them too, not just footballers.
Saturday will be a good day for kids to come and watch the game. Some might not come to football games, so it starts them coming to watch us.
Comley added: It was a good experience, it’s always nice to give back to the kids.
“The School Partners Game is a great initiative. It gives the players the chance to connect with the community and bring them to the ground – the more fans we can have there the better.
Amy Lane is the Headteacher at St Michael’s C of E Primary, and took the players around classrooms to meet hundreds of their pupils.
Mrs Lane said: “The children have been really encouraged and inspired. It’s great to have them here, particularly Taylor as he’s from the area, but both have been really relatable.
The schools offer is really popular with our families. It gives the children the chance to watch some professional football at a reasonable and realistic cost for families.
For more information on our School Partners Games, please contact joe.roberts@walsallfc.co.uk
