Dear Niamh,
First of all, congratulations on getting into England’s squad for the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. We, the Year Nine pupils at Upton Hall School, are extremely proud of your achievements and find inspiration in your success. Your journey from playing for West Kirby Wasps to joining Chelsea has been remarkable, and we will be cheering you on this summer as the Lionesses strive to reach the final.
As students, many of us are involved in various sports such as trampolining, gymnastics, swimming, tennis, martial arts, athletics, cricket, dance, netball, and football. Some of us even have similar experiences to yours, like Sophia who joined a boys’ team at a young age. We admire your ability to balance training with school work, and your dedication serves as a great example to us all. We’ve heard that you achieved 12 A*s in your GCSEs, which is truly impressive. Your hard work both in and out of school has paid off, even though the journey to becoming an elite athlete never stops.
The teachers who taught you at Upton Hall School remember you fondly as a lovely girl with a clear focus on your goals. They believe that if you hadn’t pursued a career in football, you might have become a doctor. Your determination and willingness to seize every opportunity have left a lasting impression on them.
While not all of us are passionate about sports, we appreciate the dedication and effort it takes to excel in any field. We understand that balancing training and school work can be challenging, but your achievements inspire us to pursue our own dreams. We have different aspirations and ambitions, with some of us still figuring out what we want to do in the future.
We know that you now live in London, which must be exciting. Some of us recently visited the city on a school trip and had a fantastic time exploring popular attractions like the London Eye and the Natural History Museum. We even had the opportunity to watch a show at the Novello Theatre. We imagine you had similar experiences during your school days, as those are often the best memories.
We have so many questions for you! We would love to know your advice for us, what it’s like being a professional athlete, your taste in music, and your best football moment so far. However, we understand that you are currently busy preparing for the World Cup group games against Haiti, Denmark, and China. Perhaps we can ask these questions in person when you visit next?
Speaking of visits, some of us were fortunate enough to meet you when you came back to Upton Hall School on sports day last year. Everyone was thrilled to have their picture taken with you and asked for your autograph. Lea, Phoebe, and Josephine missed the opportunity to get your autograph but are hoping to catch you next time. We would also love to see some of your medals. And who knows, maybe you’ll have one more to add to your collection in the World Cup final at the end of August.
We want to express our gratitude for being such a significant inspiration to us. You are a true Wirral icon, and we look up to you. Remember that you will always be welcome at Upton Hall School. In fact, Francesca, Jess, and Faye have already come up with a chant for you to the tune of a One Direction song. We can’t wait to sing it when you visit next.
As you embark on your journey in Brisbane, followed by Sydney and Adelaide, we hope you enjoy every minute of being part of the team. Whether you win, lose, or draw in the upcoming weeks, we will always be proud of you, our fellow Uptonian.
Let’s go, Niamh! YOU GOT THIS!
Good luck and best wishes,
Year Nine pupils of Upton
(Top photo: Justin Setterfield – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)