A former Arsenal FC Community Outreach Officer who spent over a decade developing innovative projects that combined football and education visited City Academy to inspire and work with Year 8 students.
Steve Eadon, who now runs his own business, delivered a motivational talk on the importance of languages in football before leading a 50-minute football training session conducted entirely in Spanish.
During his time at Arsenal, Steve managed the award-winning Arsenal Double Club modern languages project, which used football as a tool to inspire young people to learn new languages. He worked with internationally renowned players, including conducting interviews with Mesut Özil in German and leading French lessons with the help of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. His experiences working around the world, including in Barbados and Brazil, have given him unique insights into the power of language in shaping careers.
Steve’s talk focused on the advantages of learning a second language, particularly in industries such as sport, travel and business. He encouraged students to persevere with their language studies, highlighting how multilingualism can open doors to exciting global careers, from football management and player care to international business and sponsorship.
The session was highly engaging, with students actively participating throughout. Following the talk, a Q&A session gave students the opportunity to ask Steve about his career, experiences and advice for the future.
Steve’s message was clear: learning a language can provide a unique advantage in life and work. His visit left students feeling motivated to continue their studies and explore new possibilities for their futures.
Emanuele Lumini, Subject Leader for Modern Foreign Languages, said: “Steve’s visit was a fantastic opportunity for our students to see first-hand how languages can create exciting opportunities beyond the classroom.
“His experiences working with elite footballers and international organisations brought language learning to life in a way that was both engaging and inspiring. The students were captivated by his story and thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of taking part in a football session delivered entirely in Spanish.
“We are incredibly grateful for his time and expertise.”
