PUPILS from Westgate School have met and trained with members of the England football team after winning a competition.

As previously reported, the pupils were given the opportunity after a Westgate teacher won first place in a competition run by high street retailer Marks and Spencer.

The children were told about the special training day, which would see 15 aspiring footballers training with the England Team, during a special live-link event with the Lion’s Den last November.

Fifteen pupils from Years 9 and 10 were selected to travel to the team’s training camp at St George’s Park, Staffordshire, on Tuesday, March 22 ahead of the Euro 2024 qualifying match against Italy.

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Once there, they were able to observe training, take part in a Q&A session, have their photo taken with members of the team and were even given their own customised England shirts.

They then went on to have a training session with Declan Rice, Luke Shaw and Bukayo Saka.

Head of PE at Westgate School Rob Wylie, called the day a “once in a lifetime experience” for the pupils.

He continued: “They’ve been buzzing ever since.

Hampshire Chronicle: “To be actually on the pitch and to be able to pass the ball to the England players was incredible for them.

"And then we had this sort of penalty shoot-out shots and all the England players were really involved even though they weren’t into the shooting, they were with each team and giving them coaching points.

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“They were all fantastically encouraging for our pupils and Ian Wright was amazing, he was talking to the children while they were watching the England training.”

Mr Wylie said that his favourite part of the experience was the penalty shoot-outs, as he was able to get involved and act as a goalie for the pupils and players.

He continued: “So, the organiser said ‘Well, you can go in goal because it would be great for the children to score against their teacher’, so I was in goal and had Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka shooting at me.

“So, for a PE teacher that was quite an amazing thing to happen.”