Alan Shearer was back at school in Newcastle today to launch the first E.ON National FA Cup Schools Day. With energy company and FA Cup sponsor E.ON taking charge, the event will take place on 24 April 2007, ten days after The FA Cup semi-finals.

To launch the event, Shearer made a guest appearance at Gosforth East Middle School in the City.

The former Newcastle United and England frontman took part in the school assembly and a training session with the school football team. He also spent time in the classroom working with children who will be involved in the E.ON National FA Cup Schools Day.

Encouraging over 200,000 primary school children nationwide to participate, the E.ON National FA Cup Schools Day will give children the chance to celebrate the history and excitement of The FA Cup within the classroom. A number of FA Cup themed activities will run throughout the day, such as creating your own FA Cup and lunchtime menus designed by football nutritionists.

All participating children will also have the chance to enter a national competition to join a group of FA Cup Final mascots and lead out the teams at The FA Cup Final on 19 May 2007.

In addition to the classroom-based activity, the E.ON National FA Cup Schools Day will enable FA Charter Standard level schools to participate in special FA County Festivals. Managed by FA coaches, the festivals will give children expert tuition and coaching.

Speaking at the announcement Alan Shearer said: “The FA Cup is a very special competition and is respected the world over. It is a great inspiration for all footballers amateur and professional and we all dream of winning it. It’s great for these kids to involve the passion of The FA Cup in their classroom and I hope E.ON National FA Cup Schools Day will become a permanent part of the schools calendar.”

E.ON’s Head of Sponsorship, Mike Thompson said: “This is the first-ever E.ON National FA Cup Schools Day. The FA Cup is a fantastic competition that appeals to all generations and through this unique event, we can use the magic of The FA Cup to inspire children in the classroom. Our schools development programme is an important part of our overall sponsorship of The FA Cup and demonstrates our commitment at all levels of the game.”

Children and teachers who would like to get involved in National FA Cup Schools Day should visit www.TheFA.com, email schools@eon-uk.com or call the hotline on 0845 6120318 to register their details.

The E.ON National FA Cup Day forms one part of E.ON’s role as The FA Schools Partner. The schools programme is complemented by the ‘Up for The Cup’ education pack which is sent to 18,000 Primary Schools.

The FA Schools programme is one of two national schools’ education programmes that E.ON supports. The other is the Energy Experience where E.ON is helping over 6,000 UK schools educate children about energy. E.ON also actively supports many schools in the local communities where it operates.