Reading FC legend Glen Little was the guest of honour at the Woodley Carnival Schools Football Tournament on Friday.
The winger was a key part of the Reading side that won the Championship in 2006 with a record 106 points and secured a place in the Premier League for the first time in the club’s history.
Charlie Hiscox, who runs Woodley-based education business uSports, resurrected the Woodley Carnival Schools Football Tournament last year, after it had shut down in 2017 due to a lack of volunteers.
A total of 32 boys and girls teams representing schools across Berkshire took part in this year’s tournament, which took place at Woodford Park in Woodley.
Little presented medals to the children and talked to them about focusing on the importance of taking part, representing their school and enjoying playing football. The children also had an opportunity to ask him some questions about his playing career.
Woodley’s Mayor David Bragg attended the event and was part of the presentation ceremony.
“It was an amazing event and a pleasure to be part of it,” said Little, who made more than 100 appearances for Reading. “I really enjoyed it – and it was great to see so many children having fun.”
He added: “Grassroots football is such an important part of so many local communities up and down the country and it’s fantastic that Charlie and uSports are supporting local schools and grassroots football in this area.”
Hiscox, who played in the Woodley Carnival Schools Football Tournament as a child, decided to bring the tournament back for Year 5 and Year 6 primary school children last year after a seven year absence.
His uSports business provides community, school and nursery sports coaching to thousands of children every week in more than 100 schools and nurseries, as well as 14 holiday camp venues across Berkshire.
uSports were the tournament’s headline sponsor again this year.
