As Boro's 'Community Champions' initiative concluded, three Boro stars, Scott McDonald, Danny Coyne and Justin Hoyte visited Coulby Newham's Sunnyside Primary School to open the school's new play area. ComeOnBoro.com's Elle Brunton reports.
Sunnyside is a mainstream school but also caters for pupils who have hearing impairments, visual impairments and moderate learning difficulties.
The players, and selected members of MFC staff were invited to the school as guests of Friends of Sunnyside.
Upon arrival, the players were shown into the playground where around three hundred excited children in PE kits gave them a rousing reception.
Danny Coyne cut the ribbon to declare the new play facilities official open, before all three players took part in a keep-fit session with the children.
After that the players split up as striker Scott McDonald was treated to a tour of the school's facilities, defender Justin Hoyte played volleyball with pupils, and Danny Coyne was back in goal for a game of 'goal ball' with some of the visually impaired pupils.
The play area is open to all the children, and the school teaches visually impaired and hearing impaired children from three years (nursery) up to year six, (ten to eleven years).
There is also a buddy system in place so when the children were heading into the playground from the classroom, not only did they have to line up, the older pupils partnered the younger children.
McDonald, said: "The teacher was just telling me how the school raised money with the kids, one of the things they did was the kids had smarties boxes, but after they ate them, they had to save their pennies in them. They raised about £800 from that, so that's fantastic.
"It's nice, it is great to see the joy on their faces for such little things.
"You forget sometimes, we see yourselves as normal people but to see how excited the kids were today, you realise you are a role model, I'll have to remember that when I'm playing and try not to look angry, or swear..."
McDonald started to do kicky-ups and was joined by Jasmine, an older pupil with a hearing impairment who loves football and is a passionate Boro supporter.
The children did ask the Australian international if he would be supporting England in the World cup however, to reach Scott, pretending to be affronted exclaimed "Nooo! I'm an Aussie!"
Coyne was blindfolded in the goal, and the pupils took penalties against him, with a ball which had a bell in it. The experienced goalkeeper said it was an interesting experience, and manage to save all but the last of the spot kicks!
Coyne, said: "I saved a couple, but they got the last one in so I wasn't happy! (laughing)
"I've never experienced anything like that before, it was good to see what it is like for children with visual impairments, it was really interesting, really good for me."
The players were then the star attraction at the school assembley, where they were joined by members of the Friends of Sunnyside and local businesses who helped raise funds for the school's new playground.
Scott McDonald presented certificates to the best entries of a competition to see what they children would do with a Boro player for the day. One of the winners, Ellie, a year five pupil, wanted to share an english breakfast with french striker Jeremie Aliadiere!
All the winners will receive tickets for a game next season.
Justin Hoyte then drew the winning ticket for a raffle for a signed Boro shirt. The girl who won looked absolutely delighted, and her younger brother, the head teacher informed the players, is also a huge Boro fan.
Throughout the assembley, one of the teachers sat at the front signing for the hearing impaired pupils, and the children applauded the guests and winners with a mixture of ''normal' clapping, and signed clapping.
Danny Coyne said: "It was fantastic to see Sunnyside's excellent facilities and the work the school does to give the pupils a healthy lifestyle.
"The club likes to play a big part in the community and it was clear our appearance made a big impact at the school, which made it all the more enjoyable for us."
'Community Champions' has seen Boro players make personal appearances to help local charities and good causes raise awareness of their projects.
Along with Stockton's Shaw Trust and Norton's Daisy Chain, Sunnyside School was one of three local charities who won a Boro visit together with a shirt signed by the first team and 10 tickets for the club's final home game with Coventry City.
Runners-up were Spennymoor-based cerebral palsy charity Heel to Toe, Laurence Jackson School of Guisborough and Captain Cook Primary School in Marton, Each will receive a Boro shirt signed by the first team squad.
Under a motto of 'The heart of the community', Boro are renowned for their charitable work.
Boro stars have made more than 350 community appearances over the past 12 months, while the club's community project is one of the biggest and best in the country.
First published on www.ComeOnBoro.com on 28-4-10
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