PORT Vale player Gareth Owen turned teacher to help children with their reading.
The 28-year-old was at St Edward's First School, in Cheddleton, to kick off the Reading Champions scheme to help reluctant readers develop the confidence to pick up a book.
During the coming weeks, Gareth and fellow Vale defender Adam Yates will take it in turns to read to classes at the school and inspire youngsters who are not keen readers.
Eight-year-old Sammy Corden, below right, said: "I don't like reading books because I read hard books, but I would like to read to a footballer."
The year three pupil added: "I don't like reading pop-up books because they are boring. It'll be fun to read to the players. Maybe we could read books about football."
For Gareth, the scheme presents an opportunity for him to pass on his interest in education.
The defender is studying for a degree at Staffordshire University in sports journalism and broadcasting. He previously attended Moorlands Sixth Form College where he achieved three A-levels. He picked up two grade As in PE and psychology and a B in general studies.
He was head boy when he was at Painsley Catholic College. And he is a mentor, through another Port Vale scheme at St Giles Primary, in Cheadle, and his former school Great Wood Primary in Tean.
Gareth said: "Communication and vocabulary is vitally important, especially for us. We have to put the manager's thoughts into action on the pitch.
"If we can help the kids even one per cent we are doing something in the right direction.
"As a club we are aware of our links to the community and our responsibility to help schools."
Gareth, who skippered Vale on Saturday against Burnley, likes to read sports biographies and true crime, although is currently reading Stephen Fry's autobiography.
He said: "Lance Armstrong's book is the best. That's very emotional. It makes your problems seem so small."
But yesterday he was reading the story Boo! by Colin McNaughton, to a year one class.
Erica Clifford, literacy co-ordinator at St Edward's, said: "We have had links with Port Vale for a while.
"We're going to get the players to read to the whole class and also do some one-on-one work with some of the boys.
"With Gareth being a football player it does inspire the boys.
"Sometimes the young boys don't like reading to us, but they want to impress the players and it's a novelty.
"Reluctant readers do tend to be boys. They need to opened up to a lot of experiences and reading does that and improves their writing.
"Reading equips them for every day life when they leave school."
Jim Cooper, community manager for Port Vale, gave the scheme his backing. He said: "Communication is massively important for football and in life. Adam and Gareth will be coming in to the school until February half term, then we would like to take it on to other schools."
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