Lionesses legend Alex Scott surprised pupils at her former secondary school, Langdon Park School in Tower Hamlets, as she returned to celebrate the coaches, teachers and role models who helped shape her path from grassroots football to the international stage.
Scott joined a football training session with the children and their coach, before speaking to the group about her own experiences growing up and pursuing a career at the highest level. She reflected on the influence of the coaches and sports teachers who encouraged her during her formative years, including those who supported her at grassroots level.
Homecoming marks Chase ambassador role
The homecoming marks Scott's announcement as a new Chase ambassador, with the former England international joining the brand to celebrate the power of coaching and the important role coaches can play in inspiring and supporting the next generation.
The visit comes as YouGov research revealed the significant influence that role models in sport can have in inspiring future sports talent: 4 in 5 young people who look up to someone in sport admire a famous player or athlete, while 1 in 4 look up to their coach or PE teacher. Talent and hard work emerged as the attributes young people most admire in their sporting role models, highlighting the influence of both elite athletes, as well as coaches at all levels. YouGov research went on to reveal that females are almost twice as likely as any other group to say that having more identifiable role models would help them overcome barriers to coaching, as well as significantly more likely to see the potential benefits of coaching to develop key skills.
Scott: 'It's a privilege to come back'
Scott said: "It's a privilege to come back to my secondary school, meet Liam and the kids and reflect on some of the key role models I had when I was growing up – which included my junior coaches and teachers when I was here. The work that Chase is doing in bringing through a new wave of coaches and role models will help inspire young people across the UK."
The Chase football coaching programme is helping to create more inspirational role models for children across the UK by providing fully-funded access to introductory coaching qualifications and professional coaching bursaries for people from low-income backgrounds across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. To date, Chase has funded over 7,000 coaching qualifications, of which more than 5,000 have been completed since 2024.
Pupils quiz the former England star
Pupils also had the chance to put their questions to Alex in a Q&A, where she discussed her journey from playing football locally in East London to becoming one of England's most capped players. She shared some of the lessons learned from her own coaches and mentors, as well as the qualities that helped her throughout her career.
Liam O'Hara, Sports Teacher at Langdon Park School, said, "Today has been a brilliant opportunity for the students to meet Alex, hear about her mentors when she was younger and ask questions on what it takes to make it to the very top of your profession. To see a former student who grew up in the same place, went to the same school and even had some of the same coaches and teachers do so well, shows them what's possible."
Deborah Keay, Chief Marketing Officer at Chase, added, "It's fantastic to bring Alex back to her school, see the reaction of the pupils and hear about how coaches and sports teachers had such a big impact on her when she was younger, which has helped turn her into the role model she is today.
"We are proud that the Chase football coaching programme continues to provide support to individuals, helping more individuals to get into coaching so they can not only develop key life skills, but also inspire young people in their own communities."
For more information on the Chase football coaching programme, visit the Chase website.
