Schools right across England have decided to let pupils start school a little later following the Euro 2020 final.
With Gareth’s Southgate’s Three Lions squad having triumphantly defeated Denmark 2-1 to advance to the final of European football’s flagship tournament, all eyes of all ages are set to be on Wembley Stadium on Sunday.
This could truly be a moment remembered history.
The match is set to kick off at 8pm, and it’s thought that play could be taken all the way up to 11:15pm at the latest should it go to extra time and penalties – and that’s before the celebrations commence.
Understandably, for many of the youngest football fans, this could be quite the late night.
ADVERTISEMENT
So it’s a good job that local schools in the North West and across the country have decided to make things a little easier by allowing pupils staying up to watch the match come into school later the next morning.
Headteachers have been offering kids the optional start time of 10.30am, with some adding that they would rather have a late start “than an absence”.
ADVERTISEMENT
Headteachers have been offering kids the optional start time of 10.30am / Credit: UEFA Euro 2020 / England
Pupils at Alexandra Park Primary School in Edgeley, Stockport are just one of the local institutions that have been told they can head into school at 10.30am on Monday to allow them to can properly enjoy Sunday night’s match.
Headteacher Phil Brooke said it’s been a tough year for pupils, parents and teachers, adding: “My thinking is just that I want the children to have a great night and not have to worry about school in the morning,”
“If they can have a fantastic memory of the night, that’s the important thing,” he told the MEN.
ADVERTISEMENT
Coates Lane Primary School in Barnoldswick, Lancashire is also giving parents the option to let kids come in at 10.30am, announcing on Facebook that: “We would rather have children rested and in school ready to learn rather than absent all day or grumpy.”
Gisburn Road Community Primary School, also in Barnoldswick, has too given the green light for a lie-in, and thanked a now-viral decision by Rossmere Primary School in Hartlepool for the idea.
In a statement posted to Facebook, Rossmere Primary School told parents the Euro 2020 final was one of “national pride” and the “job of schools is to give children the best experiences possible”, adding: “It’s 55 years since England reached a major football final so let them watch, talk about the importance of the National Anthem, talk about pride and resilience and possibly disappointment.
The school will still open at 8.40am on Monday morning – but those arriving up to 10.30am will not be marked as late or miss lessons.
ADVERTISEMENT
It is expected that many other schools across the country will adopt a similar approach.
The decision taken by such schools to allow pupils to come in at a later time on Monday morning comes after an online petition calling for an extra Bank Holiday in the event that England clinch the Euro 2020 victory has seen over 100,000 people put their names to it.
When asked about the prospect yesterday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson ruled out the idea saying: “I think that would be tempting fate – let’s see what happens.”
He urged the nation to support the Three Lions “enthusiastically, but in a responsible way”.
Many businesses have also offered workers a late start or the whole day off, so that football fans can nurse their hangovers – with the Trades Union Congress (TUC) saying that the game would be a “historic moment” for the country.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Bosses should talk to their staff about flexible working arrangements ahead of Monday morning – perhaps allowing them to start later and claim back their time afterwards.” said Frances O’Grady, the TUC’s General Secretary.
“Many of them will want to watch the match, and they should be able to – either at work or by finishing early and making up the time,” she concluded.
Lemn Sissay OBE pens powerful poem about Manchester City for Black History Month
Danny Jones
Lauded local poet Lemn Sissay MBE has penned a moving poem in collaboration with Manchester City, looking back on the club’s cultural past and key persons of colour for Black History Month.
Born in Orrell in the borough of Wigan, the published author, playwright, and BAFTA-nominated broadcaster has made a name as one of our region’s most notable wordsmiths, so it’s no wonder that he was selected by the Cityzens to touch on this particular topic.
Teaming up not only with Man City but the club’s first-ever Black footballer, Stan Horne, as well as other senior stars from the Maine Road days, all the way up to the modern Etihad era.
‘The Stadium Speaks’ by Lemn Sissay – a poem commissioned by Manchester City for Black History Month 2025
Entitled The Stadium Speaks, the public reading of the verses runs for just under two minutes, but even in the relatively short space of time, there is so much power in this poignant poem.
Roping in help from other past players like Nedum Onuoha, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Shaun Goater, as well as current stars like Ruben Dias, Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw and Jeremy Doku, each line leaves just as much impact as the last.
Just as importantly, they were also joined by Jahmal Williams-Thomas, City Matters’ Black and Mixed Heritage representative, Bing Findlater – the Official Supporter Club’s Equality and Inclusion Lead, as well as several other City fans and staff who work throughout the Eithad Campus.
Each individual who lends themselves to the performance delivers their part perfectly and from the heart; after all, Black culture isn’t something strictly celebrated during the month of October, but throughout communities all year round – as it should be.
Sissay, 58, clearly relished the chance to dive into how Greater Manchester‘s history intersects with not only football, but racism, equality, progress and more.
One stands and we all stand One falls and we all fall We are Manchester City And we stand tall
To celebrate Black History Month Manchester City Football Club commissioned me to write this poem to reflect on the club's journey from Maine Road to today. I have called it…
Speaking via a statement on the club website: “Manchester felt like home to me, the moment I stepped foot across the boundary. I came here very early on, when I think I was 13, I came to see Manchester City play. The first time I came to this city was to see City.
“I want the poem to be owned by the person who’s in the stand watching the game. And I wanted the poem to be owned by the person on the pitch who’s playing it. And I want them to feel proud reading it.”
The post goes on to reiterate that just like all teams throughout the football pyramid, racism and discrimination in all its forms should not and WILL not be tolerated.
Asking supporters to step up and speak as and when needed, City fans can report abuse and/or inappropriate behaviour to 07700151894, which will make security aware of what has been witnessed.
Feedback can also be shared anonymously by texting the specific block, row, seat number and a short description of the incident to the number; if in doubt, talk to a steward or police officer at the game.
Elsewhere, the official MCFC Supporter Charter sets out their zero-tolerance policy when it comes to discrimination, and fans can also report online discriminatory abuse they see targeted at Premier League players, managers, coaches, match officials and their families directly HERE.
Salford City set to reverse kit colour following clear-cut fan vote
Danny Jones
Salford City FC are set to make a historic change, or rather turn back time, as the Greater Manchester side looks set to change its main kit colour back to orange.
The Ammies are undergoing another big overhaul – the most significant since the ‘Class of 92’ bought the club back in 2014 – with supporters being invited to give their thoughts on the direction they want to see the club going in.
Currently sitting ninth in the third tier after making a positive start to the 2025/26 campaign, Salford City have been met not only with fresh investment in recent months but a fresh push for change from the ground up.
Including, as it turns out, the kit colour. After genuine calls to reverse the kit colour from the fans, the Salford board took a fan poll, with over three-quarters of all those who took part voting to return the City jersey to orange.
As you can see, 77.1% of Ammies confirmed that they were in favour of bringing back the predominantly orange and black shirt, shorts and socks; the switch is expected to happen before next season.
The League Two side has made it clear that promotion to the Championship is the big target over the next few years, and as the new consortium headed up by Gary Neville and David Beckham continues to try and transform the club once again, they’re looking to make big statements.
It doesn’t get much more foundational than restoring the orange shirts that Salford City wore for the best part of four decades prior to the initial takeover.
The decision itself comes after a thorough ‘heritage consultation’ process, where the older Neville brother and other key figures took supporter feedback into consideration, including the majority kit vote.
In terms of announcing the change, they’ve had plenty of fun revealing the outcome on social media, too.
Sharing a full statement on the club website, SCFC went on to detail that there is “significant work to be undertaken at the Peninsula Stadium to update cladding and seats, amongst other infrastructure upgrades that are already due to take place.”
Hoping to combine their “tangerine heritage with modern style to create a striking orange identity”, the overall brand aim is now simpler than ever: “when you see orange, you will know what it means. This is Salford. Proud. Unmistakable.”
Long-time supporter, Richard Kedzior – who also owns the recognisable orange and black flag that hangs in the west stand – said of the news: “I’m delighted that we’ve reverted back to orange, which over a 40-year period was the colour we were always associated with prior to the change to red.
“It’s a welcome return to tradition as well as giving us back our unique identity that will once again identify us all as proud supporters of Salford‘s premier football club.”
Before the reversal was fully confirmed, co-owner Neville discussed the potential change in a room full of passionate Salfordians.
Old Dead Tree fanzine committee member, Kev Wright, continued in the statement: “The orange kit represents Salford’s true identity. It sets us apart and reminds everyone that we are our own Club, not just a shadow of Manchester United.
“When we play in red, the comparisons are inevitable, and people can mistake us for something we’re not. Salford is different. It’s about local pride, about belonging to a community with its own history and its own future. Orange gives us a distinct voice and a colour we can call our own. It’s more than just a kit – it’s a statement that we are Salford, and proud!”
Signing off, fellow Ammie Deb Sculthorpe believes that this could be the ‘fresh start’ that the 85-year-old footballing outfit needs, adding that “timing is everything and now is the time.”
A further consultation is set to take place regarding the club crest, too, as some have also suggested reverting the modern logo to the old Salford Central-style badge, with more information to be shared as and when.
What do you make of the decision to swap the modern Salford red for Greater Manchester‘s second city classic orange strip, Ammies?
Emily Sergeant -
9th July 2021 
