When players from the girls football team at Peartree Spring Primary School in Stevenage were preparing for a game, finding kit that would fit properly was a challenge.
"It was a running joke with the girls that I would go and get the kit box out and it would be, 'Do you want the shorts that are three sizes too big, or four sizes too big?'" says Peartree Spring teacher Sian Owens.
But thanks to the Premier League Girls' Kit Scheme, part of the More than a game campaign, the Peartree Spring girls team now has brand new kit that fits and makes them feel comfortable.
The girls were presented with their new kit at a surprise assembly, which also featured the Premier League Trophy, to make them one of more than 4,000 schools across England and Wales that have successfully applied for football kits for their girls' team.
"To have something where it fits them, it fits their bodies... I know that they are stepping out onto the pitch and they're not worried about the way they look," Owens says.
"When they're comfortable, they're confident, and that's all I ever want for them is just to feel like they're going on to the pitch and they're going to be the best version of themselves."
Seeing the girls' team in their new colours was a special moment for inspirational Year 5 teacher, TikTok sensation and BBC Bitesize presenter Kit Brown, who nominated the school to receive the kit.
"They feel like they've got that opportunity now to play football and feel comfortable in a kit," says Brown, who has also supported the Premier League's No Room For Racism campaign. "They don't just have to wear the old boys' kit. They've got that opportunity without any barriers.
"For me personally to see that for the children in our school is a feeling that won't go away."
The Kit Scheme, delivered in partnership with Nike, aims to encourage more young girls to participate in football and builds upon the 7,000 free football kits that have already been given away via the Premier League Primary Stars programme since 2017.
Premier League Kit Scheme
The Premier League Kit Scheme has returned in 2024, giving primary school teachers the opportunity to apply for free Nike football kit for their girls’ teams.
It has been included in the rollout of Active Allies, resources developed as part of Premier League Primary Stars, which wants to help instil positive behaviours in children by growing self-belief in girls and inspiring allyship in boys - so football can be truly everyone's game.
"Boys now understand that actually they have the power to stand up for girls," Brown says after delivering an Active Allies lesson.
"The girls have the power to stand up for themselves, to be able to challenge, to raise questions, to fight for that equality and make sure that girls and boys can play together without any gender stereotypes."
Video messages from England players Chloe Kelly and Mason Mount are available for assemblies in primary schools; along with interactive resources for teachers designed by experts to encourage discussion and inspire action across all participating primary schools.
Primary schools in England and Wales can access the Active Allies educational resources by signing up to Premier League Primary Stars.
More than a game
What is Premier League Primary Stars?
Premier League Primary Stars is the Premier League's primary school education programme, using the appeal of football to support children to be active and develop essential life skills. It is available to every primary school in England and Wales, with over 19,000 schools engaged with the programme. More than 1.3million school sessions and events have already been delivered.
Funded by the Premier League, through the Premier League Charitable Fund, the programme has enabled over 68,000 teachers to use resources for English, PSHE, PE and Maths, to help children to be active and develop essential life skills. There are 650+ free resources available.
Currently 104 professional football club charities from the National League to the Premier League run in-classroom Premier League Primary Stars sessions in local schools, with over 18m attendances by primary school pupils.
To find out more about delivering the programme in your school, please visit plprimarystars.com.
