Enfield Borough FC academy players heard from Arsenal captain and World Cup winner Per Mertesacker at Capital City College for a special guest speaker event hosted by Darren Lewis (Image: Enfield Borough FC)
Enfield Borough FC academy players heard from Arsenal captain and World Cup winner Per Mertesacker at Capital City College for a special guest speaker event hosted by Darren Lewis (Image: Enfield Borough FC)
Enfield Borough FC academy players were given a unique insight into elite-level football when former Arsenal captain and World Cup winner Per Mertesacker visited Capital City College for a special guest speaker event.
The event, hosted by award-winning sports journalist Darren Lewis, brought together students from the club's academy programme to hear first-hand from one of football's most respected figures about the highs and lows of a career at the very top of the game.
Mertesacker, who won the World Cup with Germany in 2014 and made more than 150 appearances for Arsenal, spoke openly about his playing career, leadership experiences, and his work developing young talent as Arsenal's academy manager.
One of the most impactful moments of the discussion came when Mertesacker revealed the anxiety he experienced throughout his career, admitting that he often felt physically sick before matches despite competing on football's biggest stages.
He also shared his philosophy on player development, stressing the importance of creating environments that help young people grow as individuals as well as athletes.
The session formed part of Enfield Borough FC's commitment to providing academy students with access to leading figures from across football and sport.
Enfield Borough FC chairman Marvin Walker said: "Having someone of Per's calibre spend time with our students was incredibly valuable.
"His achievements speak for themselves, but what really resonated was his honesty and humility."
"Our players saw that even a World Cup winner faced challenges with confidence, pressure, and anxiety.
"Those lessons are just as important as anything they learn on the pitch."
Walker also highlighted the significance of Mertesacker's message around player development.
"One of the key themes throughout the discussion was creating the right environment to develop the person first and the player second.
"That's something that aligns closely with our philosophy at Enfield Borough."
"We want to help young people become better footballers, but more importantly, better people.
"Hearing that message reinforced by someone who has managed one of the country's leading academies was hugely powerful for our students."
The discussion was expertly led by Darren Lewis, who drew out insights from Mertesacker's playing and coaching career while encouraging students to reflect on their own journeys in sport and education.
For many of those in attendance, the event offered a rare opportunity to engage directly with a football figure who has experienced success at the highest level, while also speaking candidly about the realities and pressures that come with elite performance.
Walker added: "We're extremely grateful to Per and Darren for giving their time.
"The feedback from our students has been outstanding and it's a session that will stay with them for a long time."
The event is one of a number of initiatives being delivered through the Enfield Borough FC academy partnership with Capital City College, which aims to combine high-quality football development with education, personal growth, and employability opportunities for young people across the borough.