Boro stars Adam Johnson and Jonathan Grounds took time out of their hectic schedules recently to celebrate the achievements of 100 secondary school students from across the Tees Valley who have completed Business, Enterprise and Career courses with MFC's Enterprise Academy. Johnson had a pressing engagement with Ali Brownlee's radio show so ComeOnBoro.com's Elle Brunton sat down with Jonathan Grounds to discuss the start of Boro's 2009-10 campaign.
The students involved in the event ranged in age from fourteen to sixteen and were from Blakeston, St Michael's, Hummersknott, Ryehills and Ian Ramsey schools.
The majority of the courses the stundents undertaker run for ten weeks but students from Ryehills and St Michael's have completed a 30-week course which saw them all receive a qualification in Developing Enterprise Activities, which is equivalent to a GCSE grade A-C.
Enterprise Academy Team Leader Helena Bowman said: "We hold these events to award the fantastic work that the pupils have completed throughout the school term. It is particularly impressive that some of the students have stuck with the courses for a full year in order to earn high level qualifications.
"All of us at the Enterprise Academy are very proud of the part we have played in the students' development and wish them well with their studies in the future."
The Enterprise Academy uses funding from the Government's Single Programme and works in conjuction Middlesbrough FC, Middlesbrough Council and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, using the football club as the model business when teaching the region's young people about business and the world of work.
Over 25,000 young people have already benefited from the mentoring, exciting activities and accredited courses on offer.
EB: Right, let's talk football. You have been in and out of the team at this early stage of the season, but there are a lot of games to go. Are you confident you will see more first team action?
JG: I think there will be more opportunities this season, there's a lot of young players in the team. You just hope the manager sees enough in you to keep you in the team.
EB: You've played both left back and centre back already this season, do you think been able to play in multiple positions gives you an edge?
JG: You can never get too comfortable whatever position you play but it pushes you to improve yourself and that has can only be good for the team.
EB: Some of the fans complain about 'square pegging' players into the wrong positions but we have a couple of young players, particularly Rhys Williams, who are equallly comfortable in a variety of roles, where do you prefer to play?
JG: I prefer to play left back but its good experience and it is useful for the manager to know that if someone gets injured you can step in.
EB: After Huth left you played centre back but after Taylor got injured you were given your chance at left back. Emanuel Pogatetz shares those two positions and is an experienced player, are you worried that you will fall back down the pecking order?
JG: At this stage of my career I'm happy to be playing and gaining experience. Its the same as Rhys, we don't definitely have that position and there are other players to come in but at the moment we are just happy to be in the team.
EB: The team have consistently been in the top four so far, how confident are the players that Boro will only be spending one season in the Championship?
JG: Yes its been really good, and we've got a positive manager, which helps.
Obviously we were a little bit disappointed [after the West Brom match] that there wasn't a midweek game to get back on the field and pick up some more points but there are a lot of games.
EB: There are a lot of new grounds to go to and teams to face this season, which game are you most looking forward to?
JG: I'm really looking forward to the derby against Newcastle. Its a real attraction, even more so this season as we both want to win the league! It is even more exciting for the lads.
EB: And for the fans, who have been slightly more positive on the road this season...
JG: The fans have been brilliant this year, away especially, It's been fantastic, Scunthorpe was a full stadium, Sheff Wed... They've been great. Now we just need to get the atmosphere at home that we get at the away games.
Jonathan Grounds has been involved in nine of Boro's twelve matches this season and with seven months remaining it is safe to assume he will get his chance to shine as Boro look to top the table.
For further information about the MFC Enterprise Academy contact Helena Bowman (Team Leader) on 01642 757674, by email, or visit the Enterprise Academy website.
First published on www.ComeOnBoro.com on 9/10/2009
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