A football club community day was held at a Deal primary school last Tuesday.

Deal Town first-team boss Steve King - who works at Dover Grammar School for Boys - led the day at Sandown School on Golf Road.

It included an assembly on the importance of local communities, and sessions with Year 5 and 6 pupils on aspirations and the transition into secondary school.

King was then joined by first-team player Ben Chapman, a teacher at Sandown, and fellow Dover Grammar School for Boys teacher Tom Chapman - Ben’s brother - for coaching sessions for Years 4, 5 and 6.

“It was great to give something back to the local community,” said King.

“Sandown is a popular local school, who have been keen to collaborate with the club and, with Ben working at the school, we were more than happy to go and share the success we achieved last year.

“We believe we're here to represent our local community and days like this only strengthen those positive relationships.

“We have given all Key Stage 2 students at the school a free ticket for themselves and an adult for our game against Littlehampton on Saturday and we look forward to welcoming them to the Charles Sports Ground.”

Pupils were also given the chance to have their photo with the Southern Counties East League Premier Division trophy the Hoops had won last season, alongside King and the Chapman brothers.

Sandown School head teacher Kate Luxford enthused: “The pupils at Sandown School thoroughly enjoyed their sessions with Steve King.

“There was a tangible buzz of excitement around the school, coupled with some great discussion on aspirations and the transition into secondary school.”