“Just say yes. You might feel uncomfortable, but that is where great things happen.”
These are the words of Luke, a former Failsworth School student and School Games volunteer. His journey took him from a self-pressured goalkeeper to a confident leader hosting a national summit.
How things started
Growing up, Luke was a talented athlete, reaching town-level cricket and playing as a goalkeeper in football. However, his love for the game came with a heavy weight.
“I often put a lot of pressure on myself,” Luke explains. “I was the last line of defence or the batter on strike. When things went wrong, I’d focus on how I could have done better for myself rather than for the team.”
Luke struggled to see the “bigger picture” of teamwork because he was so focused on individual responsibility and the fear of making mistakes.
The turning point
Luke’s journey with the School Games began with an offer from School Games Organiser (SGO) Tim Liptrot to help officiate a cricket event instead of attending his science lesson.
What started as a way to get out of class quickly became a career-defining moment. Luke wasn’t just keeping score; he was leading.
“That was the moment my mindset shifted. It was no longer about missing a lesson, but about helping young people learn and develop through sport.”
Stepping up in a crisis
The real test came months later during a football event where Luke was volunteering – an emergency forced the lead organiser to leave.
Luke and his fellow young leaders had to take the reins.
Managing teachers, schedules, and matches, Luke felt the nerves of responsibility but this time, it was driven by pride rather than fear.
Rising to the national stage
Recognising his potential, the Youth Sport Trust enrolled Luke in the Young Event Host programme. The transformation was profound:
- Confidence: He went from overthinking on the pitch to hosting the 2019 School Games National Summit in front of 750 delegates.
- Collaboration: He realised he wasn’t alone; he was part of a team of hosts supporting one another.
- Professionalism: He spent 18 months with the Oldham School Sport Partnership (OSSP), progressing from a volunteer to a mentor and leading his own events.
Luke’s Advice To Others
“The School Games is so much more than a sports day. It teaches you confidence, teamwork, and leadership—lessons you carry far beyond the pitch. If you get an opportunity, just say yes. You are giving yourself a chance to grow.”
A message to the next generation
Luke’s impact was felt across his education.
He was voted Head Boy at Failsworth School and later Lead Sports Ambassador at Oldham Sixth Form College, a role he won despite not even being a PE student.
Tim Liptrot, the SGO for Oldham, notes that Luke helped foster one of the strongest ambassadors groups the region has ever seen, creating a “close-knit friendship” among his peers that lasted long after the events ended.
