“I love football, it is the only sport I want to play. And now I get to play it every day.”

James Connolly competed in Richmond House's first competitive football game this week on their new five a-side sports area  and participated in creating a rugby-esk scoreline against neighbouring school, Clarendon winning 19-6. But this didn't faze James. "It was great but it’s only a friendly and therefore all about having fun,” and with that he shot off to shake hands with his opponents because "it was polite to do that in a friendly game!"

Richmond House is part of Hampton Community College located on a separate site. It caters for up to 25 children between the ages of 11-16 who have sever social and behavioural needs and associated learning difficulties. Wooden Spoon funded a play area that includes an enclosed, all-weather sports court with raised seating, new landscaping and paved areas.

James is one of the longest serving pupils and at the age of 15 has been waiting a long time for the new sports facilities to appear. Now that they have there seems to be a permanent smile on his face. "It is great, we can play all the time, mornings before school at breaks and at lunch and even in the rain .... but not all day of course, we have to have lessons!"

 “We really like the sports area and it is much better now that we have proper markings on the pitch and proper goals. We are also getting a football strip, its yellow and blue so we can play more games and win against other schools. I only like football and support Chelsea. I watched the game during the week against Liverpool. We didn’t play very well and were very lucky. We played better then Chelsea when we beat Clarendon.”

 James is aware of Wooden Spoon and the part they played in providing him and his friends with the lovely pitch, especially as he was on hand the day that England rugby star, Lawrence Dallaglio officially opening the new facilities. James’ focus is, understandable, just on one aspect of the new facility - the chance to play football as often as he wants. However, for the staff at the school they see a bigger picture. Facilities like this provide a wider use and not simply just as a netball court for the girls. The attitude of the pupils at the school has changed; the children are healthier because of the regular exercise, their moods are brighter because of the release of energy, their attitude has improved because of the possibility that they can't play sport if they misbehaviour and their interaction with each other is better because of the bonding needed to play a team game. This area of fenced asphalt has simply changed the lives of the children who get to play on it.