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Copy of email received from Cheryl Corcoran of The Academy on 07/08/2007


Hi Dave

Wow is how I would describe last weekend. Please thank everyone for allowing us the use of the field. I have given you a summary of the weekend below, rather large but I could have gone on all day. As soon as the pictures are available I will forward one to you.

After a performance earlier in the year at the women's FA Cup final we were approached by a corporate events company and given the opportunity to perform at Wembley for the Community shield.

We arrived at Wembley for 9am on Saturday to be shown where we would enter the stadium, what time and what to perform. We were sent to the stands to wait for instructions which the kids thought was great as we were sitting in the dug outs. We were then allowed an hours rehearsal on the Wembley pitch before we were joined by other groups who were also performing.

All groups rehearsed together and ran through the timings for Sunday.We had our own dressing room which had an adjoining door that lead into Manchester United's dressing room. We were under strict instructions not to open this door as it did not lock. We thought this door might possibly be our biggest headache of the weekend as the kids knew that only a door that was not locked separated them from Manchester United. We left Wembley at about 1.30 and went back to mine for a BBQ. We then rehearsed for an hour and a half on your field for which we are really grateful. We had four members who had not made it to Wembley earlier in the day as they had cut short their holiday and travelled from Ireland to be there for the Sunday so this additional time for us was vital.

After an initial panic early Sunday morning when we discovered that the coach had a puncture we were on our way. We had to arrive by 11am as we were entering via the VIP entrance and all VIP's are supposed to arrive by this time. The atmosphere was completely different from the day before. the place was buzzing with huge amounts of people, security, police etc.



We were shown to our dressing room, given our clothes that we had to wear and told that we would have to stay here until 2.30 and also to keep quiet. you try keeping 30 kids quiet!! After half an hour the events company came back and said that if we wanted to run through our show they could take us to an underground car park. We went to this car park that was full of TV vans, camera crews, etc. We spent an hour there and then went back to out room. The kids were entertaining themselves when suddenly you could here noise next door and then balls being kicked against the wall. Manchester United had arrived. All the kids rushed to the door and pressed their ears against it yet not one of then opened the door. We were really proud of them.

At 2.15 we were lead to our tunnels (one group in each corner tunnel) where we were allowed to watch the players warm up. Then suddenly the opening ceremony was upon us. First the band played, then the ball skill kids were on the pitch and then suddenly out music started to play. Everyone got ready to run onto the pitch.

The performance was perfect. Everyone of them kids, adults put their heart and soul into this performance in front of 81,000 people in the stadium and 50 million people worldwide. Two minutes later the performance was over and we were waiting for our cue to run off just before the players entered the pitch. However at the last minute the organisers changed their mind and left the kids on the pitch for another seven minutes whilst the players entered, the refs entered and the National Anthem was played.

The people that performed on Sunday are never going to forget that experience. The wave of noise when they ran out onto the pitch will live with them forever.

The entertainment company were so impressed with their performance and their professional attitude and behaviour that they have recommended us for other sporting events. this has given the Academy a whole new avenue.

The events that they have now confirmed that they would like us to attend will be:

Twickenham (Rugby, not sure what event) on the 15th Sept
Murrayfield at the six Nations Final in Feb
The FA Cup Final in May

And they have already secured them a spot in the Olympics opening ceremony.

What an adventure these kids now have.