In a remarkable event that brought immense joy to students at Eastrington Primary School in East Yorkshire, Hull City football players delivered a special coaching session on March 20, 2025. This unique opportunity arose from a partnership between the Tigers and Quickline, a rural broadband provider, aiming to promote community engagement.
During the coaching session, Hull City stars Matty Jacob and Liam Millar took the lead, guiding over 20 enthusiastic pupils from Years 3, 4, 5, and 6. Accompanied by three coaches from the club’s charity partner, the Tigers Trust, the session was packed with football-themed competitive games designed to enhance the children's skills on the pitch.
Connor, an 11-year-old Year 6 student, expressed his excitement, declaring, “For me, it was a dream come true because I’m a huge fan. It was amazing to actually play with Hull City players.” Nine-year-old Penny from Year 4 echoed similar sentiments, stating, “It was really surprising to have Hull City players come here. A lot of us are big fans, and it was a lot of fun.”
Following the hour-long session held in their school playground, students along with their parents and guardians had the chance to take photographs with the players and get autographs, creating lasting memories for everyone involved.
Speaking about their role as inspirations for young kids, Jacob remarked, “Footballers are seen as role models for young children, and if we’ve inspired just one of them to take up the game and be successful, that would be fantastic.” His teammate, Millar, also reflected on the experience, stating, “It was a great session, and we had a lot of fun playing games with the kids. For any of them who aspire to be professional footballers, I’d just tell them to follow their dream and believe in themselves.”
Claire Burton, Hull City’s Partnerships and Hospitality Manager, emphasized the importance of community outreach. “It’s hugely important for the club to support our local communities and our partners, like Quickline. For the children, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It was really, really special, and you could see how much it meant to them.”
Being a small village school with only five classes and a total of 113 pupils, Eastrington Primary believes this initiative significantly impacts its students. Deputy Headteacher Rachael Kay expressed gratitude, saying, “We’re only a small village school, but it’s really important to us to inspire our children and show them that anything is possible. To have Hull City players here will have helped raise their aspirations, and we’d just like to say a huge thank you to Quickline for making it happen.”
Quickline, headquartered in Willerby, also played a significant role by providing branded water bottles and frisbees for the students after the session. Sarah Lilleyman-Hall, the social values and events manager at Quickline, shared her enthusiasm about the event, saying, “Activities like this are so important to Quickline because we really value the work we do in our communities. The children were so excited to train with the players and coaches, and it was lovely to see. For them to be able to play football in their playground with professionals of that level was incredible.”
In addition to this exciting engagement with local youth, Hull City’s manager Tony Mowbray has been vocal about his expectations for the team’s young talents. Just days before the coaching event, on March 15, 2025, Mowbray highlighted Joe Gelhardt and Mason Burstow for their potential during a match against West Brom.
Gelhardt, who scored three goals since his arrival on loan from Leeds United in January, played a crucial role in the match that ended in a 1-1 draw. Mowbray, who previously managed both players at Sunderland, spoke highly of Gelhardt’s impact, suggesting he has regained his confidence after a challenging period. “He’s a lovely lad, a lovely kid who loves football, wants to improve, and wants to get better,” Mowbray praised.
Burstow, acquired from Chelsea, also showcased his potential, contributing to the team’s fight for survival in the league with a string of strong performances. Mowbray, aware of the pressures these young players face, reiterated the importance of support in their careers, stating, “They are decent signings; they’re young players, and sometimes you don’t get the end product from young players, but I think they're decent signings and good for your team.”
The juxtaposition of Hull City’s community engagement and their on-field ambitions underscores a broader commitment by the club to foster both local talent and professional success. As they pursue their goals in the league, initiatives like the Eastrington Primary session not only boost the morale of young fans but also serve to inspire the next generation of sporting talent.
