Raheem Sterling has purchased and donated 550 tickets to his old school for the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Saturday.
The England and Manchester City footballer, who will likely play in the match against Brighton and Hove Albion, attended Copland community school, now Ark Elvin academy, when growing up in London.
The academy’s principal, Rebecca Curtis, said she felt Sterling was a role model for her pupils.
“To know he still thinks about the community he came from despite how his life has changed is really powerful for us,” she said, according to the Guardian. “The vast majority of our pupils have never been inside Wembley, let alone seen such a big game with one of our old boys playing.”
Sterling said: “I have a close connection to Ark Elvin academy having attended the school myself when it was Copland community school, so it is great to be able to give these students the chance to watch a game at Wembley.
“I grew up right next door to the stadium and would dream of one day playing in a cup final or even representing my country there. To now be able to play there myself is an honour and this is a great opportunity to give back to the community that helped me get to where I am.”
Image: Brad Tutterow
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