Year 10 student Saphena will be the Preston North End virtual mascot for this weekend’s Level Playing Field matchday as a reward for her progress on the programme.

Saphena is enrolled on our alternate provision programme with Preston North End Community and Education Trust which provides the alternative and aspirational environment of Deepdale, in which our students can work towards qualifications in sport and enterprise while also enjoying sporting enrichment opportunities during their days of study with the Trust.

Saphena attends Deepdale on a Friday as part of a group of students who first enrolled on the programme back in September 2020.

Her reward for significant personal and academic progress since then will come this weekend when she is the virtual mascot for the PNE’s Level Playing Field fixture against Huddersfield Town.

Level Playing Field is a registered charity which promotes access and inclusion for disabled sports fans across the UK, with its annual Weeks of Action campaign beginning on Saturday 27th February.

Darryl McNicholl, PNECET Secondary Education Tutor, said: "Saphena has made fantastic progress since she enrolled on our education programme in September last year. She first joined us as being quite shy and reserved, but she now enjoys a great rapport with staff and classmates alike, and is also making excellent progress with her classwork. Saphena is a bright and likeable individual and she is fully deserving of the chance to be the club’s virtual mascot for the Level Playing Field fixture, and we’re really thankful to the club for donating the package as part of our themed celebrations this weekend.”

Mrs Sinclair added “Saphena always lets her light shine and displays all of our Gospel Values of kindness, patience, justice, courage and hope.”