Pupils from St Chad's Roman Catholic Primary School were treated to a day to remember on Friday after Year 6 student Michaela won a Premier League Primary Stars poetry-writing competition.
To support October’s No Room For Racism window, and falling within the UK’s Black History Month, Premier League clubs were invited to take part in a poetry-writing competition.
Michaela was first selected as Crystal Palace’s club winner before going on to win the overall competition. Her powerful poem stood out in the League-wide initiative, centred on the theme "Greatness Comes From Everywhere", which highlights the importance of education and the Premier League’s ongoing commitment to tackling discrimination.
As a reward for her winning words, Michaela was thrilled when the Premier League arranged a surprise trophy visit to her school, along with a Premier League Primary Stars assembly featuring special guest MC Grammar, who presented her with a bespoke framed poem, with each club’s winning poet also receiving a framed illustration of their poem.
“I feel very honoured to be able to win something as big as this," Michaela said. “My teachers and my family inspired me to write the poem because they teach me that there's no room for anyone to be racist.”
Jenny Mooney, deputy head at St Chad’s, added: “I could not be prouder of Michaela. Her success in the Premier League’s No Room For Racism national poetry-writing competition is a reminder that when a young person speaks with honesty and courage, their voice can reach hearts far beyond the classroom.”
Musician MC Grammar, who was on the judging panel which included Premier League champion Wes Morgan, actor Ashley Walters, Lionesses' legend Rachel Yankey and Christine Davies CBE, Chair of the Premier League Charitable Fund, was impressed by Michaela's powerful words.
"It was an honour to be a panellist for the Premier League’s No Room For Racism poetry-writing competition, celebrating the power of words and poetry to inspire young voices," he said.
"Michaela’s poem shone bright and a vibrant reminder of how words can truly change lives."
Poetry judging panel
| Panellist | |
| Shola Ameobi (ex-player) | Ben Mee (player) |
| Kit Brown (author) | Wes Morgan (ex-player) |
| Danielle Carter (player) | Amanda Neylon (Director, PLCF) |
| Kelly Cates (presenter) | Iffy Onuora (Head of Race Equality and Inclusion, Premier League) |
| Cressida Cowell MBE (author) | Kira Rai (player) |
| Christine Davies CBE (Chair, PLCF) | Ben Shepherd (presenter) |
| Jonathan Douglas (CEO, National Literacy Trust) | Rachel Yankey (ex-player) |
| Dan Freedman (author) | MC Grammar (music artist) |
| Rodney Hinds (author, co-founder Football Black List) | Theo Walcott (ex-player) |
| David James (ex-player) | Ashley Walters (actor) |
For ex-footballing star Morgan, who also sits on the League’s Black Participants’ Advisory Group, the quality and number of entrants from the 15 Premier League clubs represented in the competition, were heartening.
“Reading the children’s poems has reminded me of the pride felt by so many across the country in our diversity – even at a young age," said Morgan.
"Celebrating that in football, and the positive impact that so many nationalities and ethnicities have on the Premier League, is hugely impactful."
Below are Michaela's winning words that so inspired the judges:
Greatness Comes from Everywhere, Michaela Y6
Greatness does not wear one face,
No single way defines us all,
No single dream, no single call.
Yet side by side, we rise and see,
The strength in our variety.
We are all born in a different way,
How we look and what we say.
Together, stronger, we can truly be,
When every colour shines, honest and true,
Different stories, voices, bold and bright.
Your rhythm may not match my song,
Your path may twist where mine is long,
But side by side, we walk this land,
Not as strangers, but hand in hand.
'Football has the power to support change'
Morgan, who works relentlessly off the field, challenging racism and discrimination, believes that by supporting initiatives such as the poetry competition and No Room For Racism, positive change can be made.
“We want the young people who contributed their excellent poems to grow up in a world without discrimination, where everyone has the same opportunities regardless of their background," he added. "Football has the power to support that change, which is why No Room For Racism is so important.”
For Morgan and his fellow panellists, choosing a winner after the entries - which ranged in age from seven to 11-years-old - was a labour of love, with some outstanding contributions.
Below, we share the winning entry from each of the other 14 clubs that took part, celebrating each young poet and their own unique take on the theme, "Greatness Comes From Everywhere".
Arsenal: Amoria, Y6
Do kind stuff
Invite people to play
Very helpful to others
Everyone is equal
Ready respectful and safe
Stay positive
Imagine everyone is a friend
Today tomorrow friends for ever!
You are beautiful and wanted
Brentford: Alex, Y6
Greatness comes from everywhere,
Even in what you wear,
Anyone could always come,
No matter where you are from,
Everyone always has a voice,
And can always make a choice,
Losing and competing,
Our team is always improving,
Through all of our community,
We come in kindness and fairness in our unity.
Burnley: Elizabeth, Y6
Diversity is a range of human differences
Including not limited to race
Very different people live in happiness together
Every person has a place in this beautiful world
Religions can split us apart but sometimes they bring us together
Social class, physical ability, or attributes we are all people
In every family, in every street, we all belong
Trans or not we can help everyone
Yesterday we could have been bullying someone but today we can make a difference
Chelsea: Rudi, Y3
Greatness comes from everywhere
Respecting people across the world
Everyone is different
All the people need to be kind
The race you have doesn’t matter
Not all people are the same
Everyone has to be nice
Stopping people who do the wrong thing
See how many people are nice
Everton: Sophia, Y5
Different people yet all the same in beautiful, unique ways
Immerse yourself in other people’s cultures and heritage around you. See how great they are!
Value each other deeply as you value yourself
Egg each other on – believe in everyone!
Racist no more, we all belong equally
Stand up for what’s right and against what’s wrong. Be an ally!
Include everyone in life, we are all the same, everyone matters
Treasure the time you have in this world
You be you - you are unique and special - you are perfectly enough
Fulham: Mimi, Y4
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
The sun shines bright,
But so do you.
Everyone is different,
Kind and polite,
Just have a heart and be kind too,
Spread your kindness with all.
Leeds United: Evelyn
There’s no need for racism,
We should stand up a say something.
You don’t need to be mean,
But… what you can do is believe!
Don’t judge people by their skin colour,
What you can do is be fuller!
When people are under the weather,
You can appear and make them feel BETTER!
Some people are black,
Some people are white,
But all of us come in different shades of light!
If you see it don’t repeat it,
If someone’s shy, make sure you say HI!
If you give a smile,
It will go an extra mile!
For those who are getting bullied,
Don’t be excluded get included!
Liverpool: Charlie
Some of us are quiet,
Some of us loud,
Some of us are tall and brave,
Some of us don’t like crowds,
Our hair our skin our languages,
They make us who we are,
Like pieces in a puzzle,
Together we will go far,
It’s kindness that unites us,
A smile makes us strong,
No matter where we come from,
This city, we belong.
Manchester United: Luqman, Y6
Greatness comes from everywhere,
Diversity is a gift,
A specialised prize,
Different skin colour, different eyes.
If the world was the same, and no one was unique,
Would we all play the same old game,
Always hide and seek.
Each face tells a story, unique and true,
Dreams and hopes, shining through.
When we all play together, we’re just like glue,
The world is not the same and it won’t ever be,
Everyone’s unique,
It’s called diversity!
Greatness Comes from Everywhere!!
Newcastle United: Katherine, Y5
Greatness comes from everywhere,
I can feel it in the evening air,
Swift as rivers steady as streams,
Greatness is what the world should mean.
Greatness is a seed that eventually sprouts,
Greatness is a gift that makes you want to shout,
Greatness is a push for a new tomorrow,
Greatness is a hug that heals your sorrow.
Greatness is not a weakness it’s a power,
Greatness is like a never-ending tower,
Greatness is an encourager who said you are a star,
Greatness is a family who loves you the way you are.
Greatness is a book with many increasing pages,
Greatness is an instructor who has several different sessions,
Greatness is like footsteps echoing on the streets,
Greatness has different hearts and they all make different beats.
Sunderland
Respecting others is important
Everyone has a voice
See everyone’s different
Put others first
Each of us matters
Care about everyone
Teach everyone to be kind
Tottenham Hotspur: Amiira, Y5
We are many voices,
Coming from different sources,
A heart of gold can never stop,
We are many colours accepting all.
We’re stronger together,
You’re unique in your different way,
And when we stand together,
Respecting all diversity,
We are proud.
Religion, culture,
We are treated fairly,
Any disability, we are special,
Every race – this is the case,
No room for racism,
Be positive to others.
West Ham United: Alicja, Y5
Greatness comes from everywhere,
Even if we are different,
But we are all the same inside,
Nice and kind.
Even if we are different,
We all should have respect,
Even if we have different religions,
We still celebrate all tradition.
Even if we are different skin tones,
We should all be treated fairly,
With kindness and love in our hearts.
Greatness comes from everywhere!
Everyone should have faith in themselves,
Because everyone is nice and beautiful in their own way,
GREATNESS!
Wolves: Max, Y6
There is no room for hate in the heart of the world,
That beats in every colour every boy, every girl,
No room for walls built from ignorant lies,
No room for silence while people cry.
No room for slurs in the corner of streets,
Or justice that stumbles with shackled feet.
No room for the eyes that refuse to see,
That freedom means we all must be free.
The bridges that divide, the systems that fail,
Until we have equality for us all,
So make room for love, courage and grace –
And no room for racism,
NOT ONE INCH OF SPACE.