For most schools across Liverpool, a World Cup quarterfinal involving England brings a familiar feeling: pride, excitement and unwavering support for the Three Lions. At Calderstones School, the situation is rather more complicated.
There is, of course, the excitement that comes with watching England on the biggest stage. But threaded through conversations in classrooms and staff rooms is one name that has transformed the match from an international occasion to something deeply personal. Because standing on the other side isn't just another international footballer. It's one of their own: Thelo Aasgaard.
A Former Pupil on the World Stage
Long before he was playing in front of millions at the World Cup, Aasgaard, 24, was a Calderstones pupil. While many will be hoping England continue their tournament journey, Thelo, from Mossley Hill, has become a source of “absolute pride” for an entire school community, according to his former Head of Year Mr Leadbetter.
Watching closely is PE teacher James Sherrard, who taught Aasgaard throughout his time at Calderstones before the midfielder left to continue the pursuit of his dreams.
Mr Sherrard said: “Thelo was always a fantastic PE student displaying a wide range of talent across football, tennis and athletics. His skill set and flair when it came to football, however, were second to none. He was a magician with the ball at his feet. He would have stayed on for sixth form too but fortunately got his scholarship with Wigan, where he then went from strength to strength.”
From Wigan to Rangers to World Cup Stardom
Since then, Aasgaard’s career has taken him from Wigan to becoming a key figure at club level with Rangers, earning international recognition with Norway and taking his place among the world’s best players at the World Cup. But for those back at Calderstones, where his progress has been followed just as closely as it has by supporters across Norway, his achievements are not viewed simply through the lens of football. They are viewed through the memories of a former pupil who once walked the same corridors as current students.
Mr Sherrard said: “His former teachers and I still follow his games and results closely. Watching him perform so strongly against France and even score in a World Cup was incredible! His performances have inspired so many of our current students and he really is the talk of the school.”
For today’s pupils, professional football is no longer an abstract dream reserved for television screens. It belongs to someone who was once in their exact position.
Norwegian Heritage and Family Pride
Born and raised in Liverpool, Aasgaard has always proudly called the city home while embracing his Norwegian heritage. Having represented Norway from youth level onwards, his dad Jonathan, from Norway, explained that the connection with his homeland always felt genuine rather than convenient. Although England was a possibility given his upbringing in Liverpool, Jonathan said Norway had always been a significant part of Thelo’s identity.
That connection has already produced unforgettable moments, including his impact during Norway’s emphatic World Cup qualification campaign, where he scored four goals after coming off the bench in an 11-1 victory over Moldova, alongside scoring Norway’s only goal in his World Cup debut against France, where he became the first Rangers player to score in a World Cup since Laudrup in 1998.
When asked whether anything had surprised him about the direction of Thelo's career, Jonathan explained that every milestone had felt like a natural progression rather than a sudden breakthrough. He said: “You have no idea where it's going to go, he started playing for Wigan and he'd earned it, so it wasn't a massive surprise. Then he scored his first goals. Then he became their number 10 and focal player. Every step made sense at the time. But if you look at where he is now, of course we think he's done absolutely amazing.”
A Teacher's Dilemma
Mr Sherrard admits he is left with a sporting dilemma few teachers could ever have imagined. He said: “As much as the feeling is that most people will be wanting England to win on Saturday, a small consolation would be to see Norway and Thelo continuing their Viking row celebration one step further.”
