Boro stars Rhys Williams, Andrew Taylor and Chris Riggott got to play a new role as they stepped into the shoes of a talent show judges for MFC in the Community's Enterprise Academy's Boro's got Talent event.
The players, together with the Enterprise Academy's Helena Bowman were invited to judge a series of acts representing local schools.
Six schools were represented by the acts, St Peter's in Brotton, Roseberry School in Great Ayton, and Middlesbrough schools Chandlers Ridge, St Gerard's, Green Lane and Rosewood.
Prior to the event, the children were practicing their acts. After a long warm up for the Rosewood Hula Hoopers, Rory the Lion paid the contestant a visit and showed off some of his own moves, dancing with the children.
Before the show got underway, the audience were treated to a performance from special guest, singer songwriter Sammy Durnan, who sang her own song, Broken Dreams.
Sammy has performed at the Stockton International Riverside Festival (2009).
First up was 11-year-old Yazdan Qafouri from Roseberry, who sang Michael Jackson's 'Ben'.
Helena, said: "Going first is really hard and your voice was amazing, and you're by yourself as well, that takes a lot of courage."
Williams, said: "You're a confident young lad going up in front of the all these people!"
A clearly impressed Andrew Taylor, said: "I thought you were unbelievable, you never know what to expect when someone steps up to sing but I thought you were brilliant.
Riggott, said: "I enjoyed it, It is my worst nightmare even holding this microphone! so well done."
Next to take the stage was a group of girls and one boy wearing masks of the Boro players' faces who were acting as backing dancers for a girl performing to "Knock On Wood."
Helena, said: "Well done everyone, that was very good, It was an interesting performance wearing the the masks!"
Williams, said: "It was good, I liked the dancing, but I can't look at the lads in the same way when I go back to training now!"
Taylor, said: "The masks were funny!"
Riggott, said: "I was a little bit disappointed not to see my face there, but the mask would probably have to be too big for your heads!"
Rosewood school then performed a hula hooping routine. The youngster member of the group was just four years old, and the children's energy and technique impressed the judges.
Helena, said: "After 26 years i've just about learnt to do that so it's really impressive what you've just done."
Williams, said: "I liked the little ones! I didn't know which one to watch!"
Taylor, said: "I thought you were brilliant, I'm like Rhys, I liked watching the little ones on the sides."
Riggott, said: " I think I might start doing that in training to get my fitness up, don't think my hips would take that at 29 though!
Green Lane choir then sang two songs.
Helena, said: "I just have to say you look very smart in your uniforms. You made me happy when you were singing."
Williams, said: "You did two songs, and I really liked the first one and the bits when you were harmonising."
Taylor, said: "I really enjoyed that, I like the timing of the first song. You looked like you enjoyed it and I don't know how you remembered what you were singing, because I was getting confused!"
Riggott, said: "The boys on ends with the deep voices really balanced it out, it was lovely."
The penultimate act was two girls dressed in matching white outfits, from Chandlers Ridge, who sang the Alexander Burke version of Hallelujah.
Helena, said: "That was brilliant, amazing voices, really impressive, well done."
Williams, said: "It's a really hard song, you did well with a tough song."
Taylor, said: "You both look really nice in your outfits, it's a hard song and you sounded really good together."
Riggott, said: "You look very pretty in your outfits. That's one of my favourite songs to sing in the shower!"
Finally, St Gerards was represented by two girls playing the recorders, accompanied on the keyboard by one of their teachers.
After some technical problems with the keyboard, the girls performed two folk songs. They were also wearing matching outfits of red checked shirts, balck leggings and boots and red sparkly cowboy hats!
Helena, said: "Well done girls, I love the hats, I might get one myself! I remember playing the recorder myself and I think I failed at the first attempt."
Williams, said: "I like the outfits and the hats as well, I imagine its hard to play an instrument, so it was good."
Taylor, said: "I enjoyed your performance, well done."
Riggott, said: "Just by chance you managed to pick my two favourite folk songs!
"I got a good ear for the recorder and I thought you did really well."
The judges went away to deliberate and Sammy Durnan returned to perform the Jackson 5 classic "I want you back".
Sammy, said: "I know how hard it is to get up there and I still get nervous so you've all done really well."
The judges then returned to give their scores out of ten, with Taylor asking whether half marks were allowed, and Riggott confusing the issue further by awarding St Gerards school 8 and a quarter!
Rhys Williams was astonished to find himself on the end of a couple of boos for awarding one act an 8, particularly as it was not the lowest mark awarded.
But there was a clear winner, 11-year old Yazdan was crowned the winner, with a whopping 37 points out of 40.
The youngster's proud father, said: "Singing is a passion for him and something he does 24 hours a day."
Yazdan is set to appear on TV's Britain's Got Talent contest on TV later this year.
Funded by One Northeast and the Premier League, the MFC Enterprise Academy was developed in partnership between Middlesbrough Football Club, Middlesbrough Council and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.
It uses the football club as the model business when teaching the region's young people about business and the world of work.
The Enterprise Academy has worked with more than 40,000 young people since its kick-off in 2002. It has worked with 90 per cent of schools in the Tees Valley and is now prominent with the County Durham and Yorkshire areas.
The success of Boro's Enterprise Academy has led to similar schemes being launched at Manchester United, Manchester City, Sunderland, Aston Villa and Newcastle United among others.
Boro's Got Talent is part of Boro's Community Champions initiative, highlighting much of the great work carried out by the club in the local community.
Under the Community Champions banner, Boro stars will also be visiting The Shaw Trust in Stockton, Daisy Chain in Norton and Sunnyside School in Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, winners of a competition to 'win' a Boro player and 10 tickets for forthcoming game.
For further information about the MFC Enterprise Academy contact Helena Bowman on 01642 757674 or visit the Enterprise Academy website at www.mfcic.co.uk
To find out more about Yazdan, including his progress on the forthcoming season of Britain's Got Talent, visit his website, http://yazdan.me.
First published on www.ComeOnBoro.com on 31-3-10
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