Pompey in the Community recently teamed up with leading football manufacturer Mitre to deliver a series of exciting and educational workshops across Portsmouth schools, following on from the hugely successful debut session back in January 2025.

The latest event was hosted at Fratton Park, where we welcomed over 100 young people across two sessions. Leading the day were Mitre representatives Rohaan Nirmalendran and Elinor Wallis, who shared their expertise, passion, and career journeys with pupils from both primary and secondary schools.

The morning session focused on our primary school pupils, who were introduced to the history of Mitre and the fascinating process of football design. Children explored the role of numeracy and science in testing a football and then put their creativity to the test by designing their very own Mitre ball. Many of the designs were inspired by personal themes that mattered to the pupils, such as the city of Portsmouth, friendship, and teamwork.

The afternoon session formed part of our ‘Kick Off: Careers in Football’ programme, aimed at secondary school students. Rohaan and Elinor shared their personal career pathways into Mitre and gave a valuable insight into the wide range of opportunities available within the football industry from marketing and content creation to design and branding.

To make the day even more special, every participant was gifted their very own Mitre replica football to take home. The event finished with a truly memorable moment as pupils were given the chance to see Portsmouth’s 2008 FA Cup trophy up close. This was particularly fitting as Mitre now provides the official match balls for both the Emirates FA Cup and Adobe Women’s FA Cup competitions.

Taylor Monk, Head of Schools at Pompey in the Community, said:

“We’ve absolutely loved collaborating with Mitre this year. They’re a huge brand I grew up with and remain integral to English grassroots football. It’s essential that we unlock curiosity and help young people see how their interests and skill sets can align with diverse roles in the football industry beyond just coaching and officiating.”
This partnership highlights how football can be a powerful tool not just for physical activity and community, but also for sparking curiosity, unlocking ambition, and inspiring the next generation to explore the many career paths the sport has to offer.