Rishi joined pupils at Richmond School for a nationwide initiative aimed at promoting equal opportunities for girls in football.
Rishi joined pupils at Richmond School to take part in the Football Association’s (FA) nationwide ‘Biggest Ever Football Session’.
The event, which coincided with International Women’s Day, brought together girls from four primary schools to Richmond School to take part in a tournament.
Rishi joined pupils on the pitch, exchanging passes with the players and chatting about their experience of the day. He also spoke with older students from Richmond School, who had taken on leadership roles to run the event.
Following the tournament, Rishi took part in the presentation ceremony, celebrating the efforts, skill, and sportsmanship of all the participants.
Speaking after the event, Rishi said:
"It was fantastic to see so many girls actively engaged in today’s football session with all their energy, teamwork, and enthusiasm on display. I was also incredibly impressed by the older students who organised and led the event - they were brilliant role models and showed real leadership and passion."
The ‘Biggest Ever Football Session’ is part of the FA’s wider campaign to drive participation and equality in the sport. In 2024, 475,000 girls from more than 5,000 schools took part in similar sessions across the country. The FA’s goal is to ensure that by 2028, 90% of schools in England offer equal access to football for girls during both curricular and extracurricular activities.
Rishi added:
"Football is for everyone, and initiatives like this make sure young girls have the same chances to enjoy the game and develop their skills. It’s clear from today’s session just how much talent, passion, and potential there is, and I hope it inspires many of these girls to continue playing and enjoying football."
Helen Southgate, joint lead teacher of PE and main organiser of the event, said: “The activators were outstanding. Their energy and enthusiasm were contagious, and they were superb role models for the children.
“Their months of hard work and careful planning paid off and they provided a fun, inclusive football festival for the Year 3 and 4 girls in a bid to inspire the next generation of female footballers.”
