John O'Shea at the recent PLRS event.

It's those reading Reds. Alan Smith visits a local primary school to talk about why he loves reading.

RTG initiatives

Manchester United FC is part of the Premier League Reading Stars campaign. The Club is also involved in a RIF project run by Gorse Hill Primary School.

John O'Shea PLRS visit
Alan Smith visits Manchester RIF project

O'Shea reading the way
John O’Shea met local youngsters recently as part of United’s involvement with the Premier League Reading Stars (PLRS) initiative.

The scheme is designed to use the power of top level football clubs and players as a motivational tool to encourage children and adults to read. It aims to create lifelong readers and raise community awareness of the resources available to them at local libraries.

During a special presentation evening at Old Trafford, the Reds’ midfielder took part in a question and answer session with youngsters from four local libraries – Eccles and Broadwalk in Salford and Timperley and Woodsend in Trafford.

He discussed his favourite book as a youngster (James and The Giant Peach) and the novel he is currently reading (Dan Brown’s Deception Point).

This is the fifth season United have been involved with the PLRS initiative and the Reds' utility man was happy to lend his support.

“I enjoy reading and get through quite a few books when we’re away on European trips and pre-season tours,” he said. “It’s a great scheme and hopefully it will encourage more people, especially youngsters, to pick up a book.”

Gemma Thompson, MUFC official website, 27/1/07.

Well read Smudger
Pupils at a school in Trafford received a special visit from Alan Smith last week as part of the National Literacy Trust’s football initiative Reading The Game (RTG).

The United striker met youngsters at Gorse Hill Primary School in Stretford and took part in a question and answer session during which he discussed his love of reading.

RTG, which was launched in September 2002, works with professional football clubs and players to promote literacy and lifelong learning.

Through the scheme, Gorse Hill runs a Reading Is Fundamental UK project which gives children the chance to choose and keep up to three free books.

Gemma Thompson, official MUFC website, 29/01/07

Reading Champions: Ryan Giggs (pdf), Rio Ferdinand, (pdf), John O'Shea.

Non-RTG literacy activity