England and Arsenal star Bukayo Saka made an emotional return to his roots this week, paying a surprise visit to his former primary school, Edward Betham Church of England Primary School in Greenford. The 23-year-old winger stunned pupils as he joined them for a special assembly celebrating the importance of positive role models in young people’s lives.
As part of the event, students presented projects on their own personal heroes — and unsurprisingly, Bukayo Saka topped the list for many of them. The Arsenal ace spent the morning interacting with the children, answering questions, and sharing stories about his early years at the school that helped shape his character long before he became one of England’s brightest footballing talents.
“Coming back to Edward Betham to hear the students talking about their role models and how I might have inspired them has been a blessing,” Bukayo Saka said. “I was lucky to have teachers and coaches who believed in me — not just in football but in life. Feeling supported to explore your interests and having good people to help you can make all the difference. Role models are powerful in shaping who you become.”
Chamberlain echoed his sentiments, saying, “It’s such a joy to welcome Bukayo Saka back. He was always a hardworking, kind, and determined pupil. It’s wonderful for our pupils to see what he’s gone on to achieve. At our school, we encourage perseverance, teamwork, and communication — qualities Bukayo Saka continues to show in everything he does.”
The Power of Role Models
Saka’s visit coincided with the release of new YouGov research, commissioned by Chase Bank, which highlights how influential sporting role models can be. The study found that four in five children who look up to someone in sport are inspired by a famous athlete, while one in four name their coach or PE teacher as their biggest influence.
Through the Chase Football Coaching Programme, Saka is helping give back by supporting free coaching qualifications and bursaries for people from low-income backgrounds across the UK.
“When young people have someone they can look up to, it shows them what’s possible,” Saka said. “That’s what this programme is all about — helping create more role models who can inspire the next generation.”
