Pitch Perfect: NGGS Sports Day 2023

Last week the troops of Youthreach North Great George’s Street assembled in Phoenix Park which meant one thing and one thing only: our much-anticipated annual Sports Day was underway once more. Armed with cones, footballs, coloured bibs, and a small mountain of snacks and sandwiches, the gang set up camp on their chosen pitch and prepared themselves for the afternoon of activities ahead.

We kicked things off with a mini football tournament between our four teams - Team Red, Team Yellow, Team White, and Team Blue. As NGGS is home to more than a few football fanatics, teachers and students alike battled it out on the pitch, united in their desire to take home the trophy (not to mention sneaking in a foul against Ger when the ref’s back was turned). Competition was stiff, but Team Red, led by Literacy teacher/goalkeeper extraordinaire Lisa Carney, blitzed the competition to take the win for 2023.

Following a quick re-fuel of sausage sambos and crisps, it was straight back to the pitch to begin our next sporting event, the beloved pastime of primary and secondary schools across Ireland: rounders. Given many of our students are phenomenal cricket players, they took to the game like ducks to water, and (many times, quite literally) knocked it out of the park.

Tempers were high as there were home-runs abound for both teams: after a nail-biting finale, the teams ended in a tie, on a score of 17-17. No doubt both sides will be eagerly anticipated the re-match next year to see who comes out on top!

We wrapped up the event with an official prize-given ceremony the following morning, after our centre's weekly fry-up. Medals and trophies were handed out, not only to the winners of events, but also to students who had gone above and beyond to participate for their teams and contribute to the day. It's fair to say sports may not be everyone's one true calling in life, and yet we were delighted to see every single student in our centre get stuck in with the day's activities and give it their all. Fair play, lads!