Clarets duo go back to school

Mainstays of a Premier League defense that has kept three clean sheets in seven games this season, James Tarkowski and Matthew Lowton channelled their inner grit to motivate Padiham Primary School children to write poems based on the theme of resilience.

Open to children aged five to 11 from all primary schools in England and Wales, the Premier League Writing Stars campaign was inspired by the William Hickson poem ‘Try, Try Again,’ and the efforts of local fans certainly impressed the two Clarets defenders.

“The poems were really good,” said Lowton. “It’s great to come to these events. One young lad just started crying; he was overwhelmed seeing us, so it’s nice to make the kids happy.”

Having read a poem and even challenged a young pupil to a rhyme battle, Tarkowski said: “I hate reading in front of people! But it’s nice to come out here and see the kids.

“I’ve been at clubs previously where you go to schools and there’s United, Chelsea, Liverpool fans,” said the centre-back, who admitted he himself was “easily distracted” at school. “But here they all seem to be Burnley fans.”

Explaining his rhyme battle loss, Tarkowski said: "If I’m being honest, I think I actually won because he said a couple of words that were debatable.

“But he’s 10, so I let it go,” he added.