Swansea City AFC Foundation celebrate Welsh language with Premier League Primary Stars stadium day
Swansea City AFC Foundation’s Premier League Primary Stars project hosted a Welsh language day at the Swansea.com Stadium in conjunction with Menter Iaith and Urdd west Glamorgan.
Ysgol Gynradd Gwenllian, Pennard Primary, and Ysgol Gynradd Cwmnedd joined the Foundation at the Swansea.com Stadium for a tour, as well as taking part in activities with Menter Iaith and Urdd to celebrate the Welsh language, including a quiz on Swansea City and Welsh football.
The day sought to promote the use of the Welsh language across the Foundation, which already delivers Premier League Primary Stars, Inspires and Kicks sessions through the medium of Welsh, as well as offering Welsh language soccer camps.
And Foundation education manager Ceri Phillips believes it is important for the club and Foundation to encourage the use of the Welsh lagnugage.
“It was great to have the three schools at the stadium to celebrate Welsh language day,” said Phillips.
“A number of schools across Wales competed in the Eisteddfod recently and celebrated St David's Day, as well, so it’s nice to celebrate the Welsh language at this event.
“It’s important for everyone across the club to celebrate the Welsh language and to try and speak more Welsh, and to create more opportunities as well.”
Tomos Jones, Menter Iaith’s head officer, also feels the Foundation and the club have vital roles to play in promoting the Welsh language in the community.
“It’s great to have so many children enjoying, and great to have Welsh and English schools in attendance so the kids that don’t speak Welsh can still enjoy the language as well.
“It’s really important that the Foundation are promoting the Welsh language and the at the Swans have an influence with the children, and they get to see the club use the language.
“They see that it's fun, and they might want to go out and use it on the field themselves so it can serve as a massive influence.”
Stephanie Lucas, Urdd west Glamorgan’s sports activities officer, also underlined how important a skill speaking Welsh can be for children as they grow up.
“We try to promote children to use the Welsh language, obviously children are like small sponges, they absorb the language and it' important to teach them whilst they’re young because this is the best chance they’re going to get to learn the language and use it," she said.
"It can also give them opportunities in whatever careers they wish to pursue, so it's important to help them develop their use of the language."
