The First Minister has been asked to get behind a 10-year-old girl’s appeals to allow schoolkids to watch Scotland’s Euros bid.
Poppy Lord, ten, won the day after writing a heartfelt letter to her head teacher pleading for tellies to be brought into class for Scotland’s curtain raiser game against the Czech Republic on Monday.
After Scotland star John McGinn - who also went to St Stephen’s Primary in Dalmuir, Clydebank - backed Poppy’s appeals, a poll on the school’s Twitter account resoundingly voted for the game to be shown.
And now pressure is building for all schools to get on board - backing a rallying call sounded in the Daily Record yesterday.
Poppy told the Record: “It has been the most amazing day.
“We had everyone gathered to have our picture taken and the head teacher was holding an envelope.
“She told everyone that one of the pupils had been trying to get the school to watch the Scotland game on TV.
“My legs were like jelly, I was so nervous and I was hoping I wasn’t in trouble.
“But she opened the letter and read out what was inside and said ‘it’s a yes’. She told me that the letter had made her day and she was going to put it up on her wall.
“It was such fun. Everyone was laughing and so excited, especially the boys.”
She added: “I think every school should be the same so that we can all support Scotland.”
Poppy said the telly football plan - allowing kids to watch from 2pm when they’ll still be cooped up in class - had started badly.
She said: “I got mixed up and when I saw Mrs Crombie in the hall I said to her but I got mixed up and started talking about the Eurovision Song Contest by mistake. But it all went well in the end.”
Pressure is building for all schools to get on board - backing a rallying call sounded in the Daily Record yesterday.
Poppy’s football daft dad Rikki, 33, said: “We all want something positive to shout about and what better way to get a feelgood factor moving than the First Minister backing footie to be shown in schools?
“Even if they all get the first half and can be picked up and taken home to get the second half, that would be manageable for most people.”
Rikki said he’s proud as punch of his daughter and revealed that Poppy was inspired by how own memories of watching Scotland at the France ‘98 World Cup during class time.
He said: “I recall very clearly the TVs coming in and all the kids being transfixed at school as we watched the matches.
“The Euros have been very strange this time around because of coronavirus but I can feel things bubbling up and Poppy’s letter shows how kids are taking an interest.”
Ricki, a season ticket holder at Dunfermline Athletic, said he was amazed when Scotland star John McGinn tweeted support for the school and admired Poppy’s brilliant letter.
He said: “Everything just exploded and Poppy seems to have tapped into something and it’s all very exciting. John McGinn is a bit of a hero around these parts and he’s probably the one everyone wants to score so it was amazing that he took the time to send such a nice message on Twitter.”
Ricki said that making an appeal to school head teacher Jane Crombie was Poppy’s idea.
He said: “I have tied to get her into football and she’s been a bit take-it-or-leave-it. But when I said I’d been allowed to watch Scotland during class in 1998 I could see a lightbulb going off in her head.
“She immediately said she was going to take it up with the head teacher and I suggested she might want to write a letter for such an important matter.
“Sure enough she went off and came back with the letter, all in her own words, complete with the Scottish saltire.
“All parents think their child is bright and I’m no exception. I’m very proud of her and I hope Scotland get the right result.”
In her letter, Poppy wrote: “Dear Ms Crombie, I’m writing this letter to give you some reasons why you should consider letting the school watch the Euro football competition.
“This competition may seem like a football game but it is so much more than that!
“This game could inspire so many children to follow their dreams, imagine the smile on our beautiful faces if Scotland scored a goal!
“My dad said that in 1998 he got to watch the World Cup in his primary school, so why shouldn’t we?”
Aston Villa star John McGinn, currently at the team’s Durham tournament base, found the Tweet and replied: “Some letter poppy and an even better school! Cmon Ms Crombie.”
A poll on the school’s Twitter account currently shows 96.8 per cent of respondents supported the pupils - leading to the school to call the result early.
A spokesperson for East Dunbartonshire Council confirmed that Sty Stephen’s would now show the Scotland v Czech Republic natch, which kicks off at 2pm.
A statement readd: “Following the receipt of Poppy’s letter, the head teacher of St Stephen’s hosted an online poll and as a result of its positive outcome, she has confirmed to pupils they will be able to watch the game in school on Monday.”
The spokesperson said the council has no official policy on our pupils and staff watching the tournament and this decision lies with individual schools and headteachers.
Yesterday’s Daily Record heard from Labour’s Education spokesman Michael Marra, who said: “This is a significant cultural moment which will bind the nation together and young people need to have the opportunity to be part of it.
“Near the end of the toughest of school years, the Government should give the green light for the game to be shown in every classroom across the country.”
His views were echoed by some head teachers and union leaders.
The Record asked the First Minister if she's join the call for the Scotland Euros to be shown in schools but we got a flat response.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “This is a matter for schools, but the First Minister knows that children and young people will be willing Scotland to win their first match on Monday.”
