Story added: 17th June 2026

The Next Play event inspires students at The Nest

Norwich City Community Sports Foundation welcomed Year 10 students to The Nest for The Next Play, a special Premier League Inspires event designed to build confidence, raise aspirations and help young people think about their next steps.  

Premier League Inspires is a multi‑week personal development programme that uses the power of the Premier League and Norwich City FC to support communication, teamwork and resilience, while helping students improve confidence, self esteem and wellbeing. 

The day began with two workshops led by Premier League official Dan Robathan. In the first hour, Dan shared his journey into refereeing, the opportunities he has had along the way, and a few stories from matches where he has raised the flag for some of the biggest names in football. 

They were then joined by Norwich City’s Academy Wellbeing Manager, Rossi Jarvis, who spoke openly about his time as a professional footballer with Norwich City, Luton Town, Barnet and Cambridge United. Rossi reflected on the highs and challenges of his playing career and talked about his current role, where he supports young players in their development on and off the pitch.

Dan then returned to deliver a lively You Are the Ref session. Students were given real match scenarios and asked to decide what they would do if they were the referee. Dan then talked through each decision, offering insight into how officials manage pressure, communication and fairness during games.

Stevie Bramble, Director of Education & Programmes at the Foundation, finished by delivering a goal‑setting workshop. Students explored what motivates them, how to set achievable goals and how to take positive steps towards their ambitions.

In the afternoon, everyone headed out to the Lauren Hemp Community 3G Pitch for a football tournament, with Long Stratton High School defeating Hellesdon High School on penalties to become The Next Play 2026 champions.

Norwich City defender Ruairi McConville joined the event for the final, offering advice, supporting both sides, presenting the trophies and staying for photos and autographs, giving students a memorable end to the day.