Mensah continues to win Sunderland hearts

Ghana deputy captain John Mensah on Wednesday continued his engagement with school children in Sunderland as pupils from St Aidan school met him at the Stadium of Light to back the city's bid for games at the 2018 World Cup.

 
Students from St Aidan's School in Sunderland have helped write a chapter in Sunderland's 2018 World Cup Bid.

Pupils from all schools across the city were tasked to write to the England 2018 Team about why the World Cup should come to Sunderland.

The winner and his class mates got the chance to meet Sunderland AFC star John Mensah at The Stadium of Light.

Thousands of entries were received showing support for the bid, but the letter that really hit the goal was Ciaran Foster's words of wisdom about his home city's bid.

Cllr Paul Watson, Leader of Sunderland City Council said: "Ciaran's letter was chosen as the winning letter as it was exceptionally well written."

"He'd done his research and it focused upon the city's unique assets, including the people, the coastline, transport links and sporting facilities."

Ciaran will also have shot to the top of class with his peers as he and his class-mates were all rewarded with a ticket to watch Sunderland take on West Ham at The Stadium of Light.

As part of the initiative to engage with schoolchildren, youngsters from primary schools were also given the task to draw a picture of what the World Cup meant to them.

Football fans, residents and businesses can still show their support for Sunderland's 2018 World Cup bid.