Gillingham FC’s Brennan Dickenson and Josh Hare popped by Delce Academy, Rochester to help open the school’s new library on Monday afternoon.
The local primary school invited the Gills pair for the special occasion to open the academy’s new library and help promote the importance of reading.
School Councillors, who dressed up as their favourite fictional characters to mark the occasion, were given the opportunity to meet the players as the new library was opened.
Afterwards, the schoolchildren quizzed the duo with a series of questions about their careers and what they read in their spare time.
Dickenson said; “It was good to get the opportunity to stress how important school is. I’ve got 10 GCSEs and three A-Levels and was almost going to go to university before becoming a footballer.”
“I’m fortunate I get to train and play football professionally but I always made sure I had qualifications to back up my playing. The kids were enthusiastic about both which was good to see.”
Hare added; “It was nice to pop by to open the children’s new library. The pupils had lots of tough questions, about both football and reading. They had lots of enthusiasm and fingers crossed that will continue as it’s a nice new facility for them to enjoy.”
Mark Smith, class teacher at Delce Academy, was delighted with the response from the Gillingham FC players.
"They were so keen to share their love of reading with the students. Our children really enjoyed meeting both Brennan and Josh. They got into some great reading and got to meet SPIQe our new reading mascot".
Libby Sharpe, a Year 3 pupil at the Academy said, "We were really excited to meet Gillingham football players, I go and see them play a lot with my sister and Dad, it was special that they came to our school".