Two pupils beat off competition from 250 others to gain work placements at Dagenham and Redbridge Football Club.
James Palmer and George Maydell, both 15 and of The Albany School, wrote detailed application letters before they were interviewed.
During the placement, James worked as a community coach. He said: “I had to work with kids of various ages teaching them different skills and the key elements of teamwork. I found it really enjoyable and useful.”
Media office
George worked in the media office where he helped write press releases, design programmes and choose photographs to be used.
He said: “My media studies skills from school came in very useful and it was great to use skills and knowledge from school in a real-life working environment.”
The football club received a large number of applications for the work placement vacancies after advertising them in Dagenham and Havering.
Theresa Parrish, community liaison officer at Dagenham and Redbridge FC, said: “We were looking for people with social skills combined with a good work ethic and the ability to learn. James and George both had these in abundance and were a pleasure to work with.”
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