Full Hartlepool school shows support for England in Euros with help from Jeff Stelling and North-East footballer Jill Scott

Catcote Academy made a video of students and staff lip-synching and dancing along to the 1998 Fat Les World Cup song Vindaloo.

They did it to show their support for England in the Euros and to lift their spirits following a hard two years with the pandemic and the death of beloved headteacher Alan Chapman.

Catcote Academy’s head of performing arts Rick Kitson who coordinated the “lip dub” video, also arranged for England women’s footballer Jill Scott and Sky Sports’ presenter Jeff Stelling to appear.

The video has been watched more than 10,000 on the school’s Facebook page alone so far and been shared over 300 times, with Jeff and Jill also sharing it to their tens of thousands of Twitter followers.

Recorded in a single take through the school’s grounds, it features all 150 students and around 60 staff members wearing football kits, waving flags and kicking footballs.

Two years ago Catcote Academy made a similar video to the song This Is Me from the film The Greatest Showman.

Mr Kitson said: “It’s becoming an annual tradition because it’s so much fun and the kids love it.

"We had originally planned to do it last year but when the schools closed and Euros got cancelled we delayed it.

"But we thought it would be a good way to mix it up and send our support to the England team.”

He said both Jeff and Jill were delighted to get involved by recording short messages which have been added to the start and end of the video.

"Jeff wanted to come and join us for it but he couldn’t so sent us a lovely message,” said Mr Kitson.

He added: “The last two years have been very turbulent for us not just with Covid but we also lost our headteacher at the end of 2019.

"It’s been a really nice opportunity just to be free and have some fun.”

Mr Kitson said they have been inundated with positive comments from parents and even strangers.

The video also aims to help raise money towards future projects, school trips, residentials, special events and vital resources.

Donations can be made to the charity Parents and Friends of Catcote at https://www.gofundme.com/f/lipdub

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