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      in Soccer

      Grassroots football scores £millions so any kid can play

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      THE NATION’S grassroots football clubs are the heartbeat of the game. They are also a vital part of every local community.But clubs are suffering. The cost of living crisis means there’s less and less money to go round.
      Grassroots football is the heart of the game
      Kit, equipment, league affiliation fees, match subs, referees – it all adds up.
      Supporters often go above and beyond to raise money.
      Tesco’s community grants have supported thousands of small community projects since 2016, including more than 6,000 schools, over 2,000 sports teams and 2,300 youth organisations.
      Programmes like Bags of Help, which used money raised from the carrier bag charge, have supported thousands of local projects and clubs like Mendip Broadwalk FC.
      Andy Williams of Bristol’s Mendip Broadwalk FC
      “Grants are massively important to little clubs like ours,” says Andy Williams, club secretary and president of Bristol-based Mendip Broadwalk FC. “Especially in a deprived area of Bristol, because you can’t keep going cap in hand to players and parents – they don’t have the money to spare.”
      This summer, Tesco launched its new grant programme Stronger Starts, which is committing a further £5.3million to schools and children’s groups to fund healthy food and activities this year.
      Tesco runs the scheme with the help of Groundwork, a charity that works with corporate businesses and the public sector to identify deserving community projects.
      “We’ve been working with Tesco for seven years now, making sure their commitment to communities reaches the people who need the help the most,” says Graham Duxbury, chief executive of Groundwork. 
      “We also have a network of local community workers across the country who are on hand to promote the Stronger Starts programme, to help groups who might be struggling to apply.”
      From his living room Andy Williams can see the junior team trophies of Mendip Broadwalk FC proudly on display in a family home on the street where he lives.
      “People ask me why I still do it after 20 years,” says 57-year-old Andy. “Seeing the little faces of the junior team players at the end-of-season awards is why. It makes it all worthwhile.”
      People are struggling – we do our best to put a smile on their faces
      Mendip Broadwalk FC is based in Knowle West, one of Bristol’s most deprived areas. Money is tight here, and there are social issues and gangs. So Tesco’s grant made a real difference.
      The club is a focus for the community and an outlet and a haven for youngsters. However, subs and affiliation fees are a challenge for some players and parents.
      “People are struggling, so we do our best to put a smile on their faces,” says Andy.
      “We don’t pressurise anyone about money. No one is refused to play. We look to help them as best we can.”
      The fact that over 5,000 schools and groups, just like Mendip Broadwalk FC, have already applied to Tesco Stronger Starts since its summer launch, shows how much these schemes are needed right now.
      “The grants we allocate this year mean we can help over 1 million young people to thrive in thousands of schools, breakfast clubs, after-school clubs and sports clubs, and create positivity across our local communities,” says Christine Heffernan, Tesco group communications director.
      Every Tesco store provides information about applicants, with customers able to vote using blue tokens given out at checkouts.
      Anyone can apply, including customers and staff. The more detail in the application – particularly how the funds will be used – the better.
      Every three months the group that receives the most blue tokens is given a grant of up to £1,500, with the lucky winner invited to the store to receive a cheque and celebrate the moment.
      “Our stores have always been at the heart of every community we serve,” says Christine.
      “We’re proud that, together, we can help make a difference in our customers’ communities and to their friends and family.”
      It is hoped that with funding every child in Britain can play football if they wish
      The supermarket has also teamed up with The Sun’s Footie For All to help identify the local clubs most in need.
      The newspaper launched the campaign after charity Sported revealed that 94 per cent of clubs nationwide are struggling and that young players were dropping out because their parents could not cover costs.
      “We know there is a demand in many areas of the country for resources to help kids get into football,” says Christine.
      “So we felt it was important to team up with The Sun to extend the reach of our Stronger Starts funding to grants that ensure any child can play football if they wish, taking away the worry about paying for subs or kit.”
      Clubs like Mendip Broadwalk FC do a vital job in keeping kids off the street, encouraging them to play sport and to get fit, things that can sustain them for life.
      The club has also just started a girls’ side for under-sevens (some older girls play in mixed sides). Even better, the under-18s will soon have the chance to play under the senior side’s floodlights.
      “There’s a lot of pride in this place,” says Andy. “Sometimes I walk down the road, and players you coached ten years ago come up and have a chat.
      “They’re still very fond of the club, even if they’re no longer playing football.”
      “It’s incredibly important to us that children aren’t missing out on opportunities to exercise, stay healthy and try out activities or sports because the options they have are limited or they don’t have the financial means,” says Christine.
      Every club is a winner with Tesco Stronger Starts.

      To find out more, head to tescoplc.com/strongerstarts More

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      in Motorsport

      Ex-F1 engineer Rob Smedley launches new karting series for kids, with supporting cast that includes Idris Elba.

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      EX-F1 engineer Rob Smedley is trying to change the future of motorsport – with a little bit of help from Hollywood star Idris Elba.Smedley, who worked at Ferrari and Williams, has launched the Global Karting League, an electric go-kart series targeted at youngsters – whose parents don’t have deep pockets.
      Rob Smedley wants to do something ‘more purpose driven’ after leaving F1
      The Wire and Luther actor Idris Elba, seen here at the wheel of a Formula E racing car, is helping out the karting scheme via his academyCredit: Getty
      A junior karter gets to grips with the electric kart
      The series, which kicks off in the UK, will offer kids the chance to turn up and race electric go-karts for a fraction of the price of traditional petrol karts.
      Smedley, who is also working with the Idris Elba Speed Academy, hopes Global Karting League will give young racers the opportunity to reach F1 from different demographics.
      He said: “I’ve spent all my life in Formula One and when I stopped with the teams I wanted to do something more purpose driven.
      “One of the things that really interested me was how the majority of the drivers in F1 come from privileged backgrounds.
      READ MORE TOP STORIES
      “And that only seemed to be getting more and more prevalent. I spent a lot of time looking at why and it comes down to grassroots level.
      “If you want to participate and be successful, you’ve got to have a huge budget and that’s just prohibitive. A huge barrier.
      “If you want to race at national level, you are getting into £100,000 and the next level and race in Europe, that’s £250,000 a year and it’s not open to anyone but ultra high net worth families.
      “We started with a blank sheet of paper and wanted to massively reduce the cost and complexity and that’s how the Global Karting League was born.
      Most read in Motorsport
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      “It is about nurturing talent, creating a credible pathway through karting from the very grassroots and kids who’ve never done it before, to eventual world champions.”
      Smedley says that unlike football, many potential star drivers have never had the opportunity to try their hand at racing.
      He added: “If football was costing tens of thousands of pounds, we wouldn’t have found the immense talent across the years from different corners of the Earth.
      “You wouldn’t have found Leo Messi, you wouldn’t have found David Beckham, Paul Gascoigne or George Best.
      “We also have the Idris Elba Speed Academy. He’s somebody like myself who wants to give back.
      “He wants to represent those underrepresented communities. We had 400 kids try out and we filtered that down to 12 kids with the highest potential and put them into the Global Karting League, and they are all fully-funded.”
      One junior karter on the series is Sienna Greene, 15, from Coulsdon, who has the ambition of reaching F1.
      She said: “I first tried karting at a birthday party when I was about nine and I won and a little later I joined a cadet programme at my local track.
      Read More on The Sun
      “Working with Idris has been fun. He’s a lovely person, and he’s really down to earth.
      “I prefer racing the electric karts to the petrol ones because if I do make a mistake, I find it easier to fix, compared to a petrol kart which takes longer to get back up to speed.” More

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      in Boxing

      Baby Tyson was 1lb and docs said he’d die. I said: ‘No, he’s a warrior. He’ll be 7ft tall & world champ, says John Fury

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      JOHN Tyson, the dad of WBC world heavyweight champ Tyson Fury, has written a knockout account of his wild and wayward life as a bare-knuckle fighter and no-nonsense minder – and we have exclusive extracts from the book, When Fury Takes Over. In Day One he tells how premature baby Tyson was not expected to survive – and how Jesus spoke to him in his jail cell.
      Tyson Fury’s dad John has written a book about raising a future world heavyweight champCredit: MacMillan
      The knockout account tells how Jesus appeared to him when he was in prisonCredit: Alamy
      “THE night that Tyson was born is something I’ll never forget.It was August, and the baby was due in seven weeks’ time.
      My wife Amber and I had had problems with previous births.
      Hearing that she had gone into labour, I left work and went straight to Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester.
      It was a foul night of thunder and lightning, rain pouring down as if it was the end of the world.
      READ MORE ON THE FURYS
      Again, there were complications for my lad. Tyson had been born massively premature and weighed only 1lb — small enough to fit into the palm of my hand.
      The doctors said he wouldn’t make it, but I saw something completely different — a little warrior with a glint in his eye and his fist held up, as if he was ready to take on the world.
      I said to the doctor: “That boy is special, he is going to live and he’s going to be almost 7ft tall, weigh 20st, and one day he’s going to be the heavyweight champion of the world, mark my words.”
      When a gypsy gets a funny feeling in his stomach, you should always listen to them — the chances are they’ll be right.
      Most read in Boxing
      John reveals that he had a funny feeling about Tyson when he arrived, even though he was born prematurelyCredit: MacMillan
      As Tyson grew up, there were problems for the first four years. He kept overheating and suffering delusions.
      He would have terrifying hallucinations that lions, monsters and demons were trying to eat him.
      Amber and I would pack him in ice and rush him to hospital. I started to take him outside for the natural medicine of fresh air.
      Once, I took him to a golf course. I was mucking around with a golf club when the president of the club appeared in the distance.
      He started shouting and walking towards me, so I picked up Tyson and legged it.
      I tried to jump over a ditch but the bank gave way beneath me and I landed with all my 20st on my baby son’s leg and snapped it.
      It sounded like a dry stick being broken. I took him home, he was shaking and sobbing in my arms.
      Naturally Amber was fuming, and I was devastated. It was one of the most painful experiences of my life, never mind for my poor son.
      “How could you get this wrong?” I asked myself. How can a father break his own child’s leg?
      “You can see the bone sticking out of his leg!” screamed Amber.I hung my head in shame.
      “You’re absolutely right. I’m a misfit and not capable of being a father,” I agreed.
      We took him to hospital where they performed emergency surgery on the limb.
      It haunted me, seeing his little leg with a steel bolt through it.
      For me there is nothing worse than causing pain to one of my sons, intentional or not.
      Now, 33 years on, it still brings a tear to my eye when I think of it.
      Over the next six weeks, Tyson wore a kind of protective pot on his leg.
      It didn’t stop him crawling around the house at speed or drawing boxing gloves.
      After this traumatic event, I’m glad to say the rest of Tyson’s childhood was smooth as milk.
      He was 11 years old when he decided he wanted to take up boxing.
      Me, I didn’t want him to go down that route, so I gave him no encouragement whatsoever.
      But he was determined to do it and he found an amateur gym on the other side of Wythenshawe.
      When he went to school in Styal, Cheshire, he was huge compared to the other boys in his class.
      He would often get taunted by older boys, but the difference between Tyson and me was that he learned self-control and discipline at an early age, and he was better at controlling his red mist.”
      John recalls how Tyson was 11 when he decided that he wanted to take up boxing, well before he broke several recordsCredit: Alamy
      John says he did not give Tyson any encouragement to begin with, as he did not want his son to go down that routeCredit: Getty
      “I REMEMBER the summer of 1969 and one of many trips to Yorkshire.
      Some of my mum’s people were up there working at Martin’s Farm in Norton, picking fruit on a family estate called Castle Howard, the baroque palace in Garfield II and Brideshead Revisited.
      Six miles from the estate was a huddle of derelict red-brick farm buildings, where we pitched up our trailer and car.
      One day a whole lot of blackbirds and crows started to gather. There must have been more than 100.
      It was like something out of that Hitchcock film, The Birds.
      In Romani lore — my mother’s lore — a large collection of black-feathered birds signifies the coming of death and a predator among us.
      The messengers of doom then started their assault on our home.
      The air was full of their cawing, the flapping of their wings and their talons tearing at the paintwork.
      The noise was insufferable. Then, as quickly as they had come, they began to disperse.
      My dad had this ominous knack of knowing when something bad was about to happen.
      “Something terrible has happened to one of our own,” he said.
      Within half an hour, we saw a solitary police car rattling down the lane toward us. This was the messenger of doom.
      The copper looked at my parents uncomfortably and said: “Your nephew, Owen, has just been killed in a car accident, just 15 miles down the road.”
      It was my cousin. At the time the crows had attacked us, Owen had died and met his maker.
      Six years earlier, he had been hawking carpets with my granny.
      At one door, a woman’s gaze fell on Owen and she said: “Do not ever take this boy near the coast, because it will be his demise.”
      It had been six years from when the medium first laid eyes on Owen, to his horrible death, just a short distance from the sea.”

      “ON both sides of my family, we were very religious.
      When I went to prison for the first time, serving an 11-year sentence for a fight in which another traveller lost an eye, I never questioned my faith, nor tried to blame it on God that he had landed me in such a horrible place.
      It was my actions, and my actions alone that had taken me there.
      Jesus has come through for me that many times when things have got rough — more times than I can remember.
      Two years into my sentence, Tyson rang up, sounding hollow and scared.
      He was in Sheffield hospital and his little son Prince, who was only one year old, was very ill with meningitis. “They told me he’s going to die, Dad.”
      I said: “Listen, son, they told me you were going to die, so that’s rubbish.
      “Your son is going to be all right. I’m going to call you tomorrow in the morning, and your son is going to be here.”
      Back in my cell, I sat down on my bunk and took up my old Bible.
      As I read, the words were leaping out at me in a more pronounced way than usual.
      It was as if the letters had been dipped in gold.
      The more I read, the calmer I was becoming. I said a prayer under my breath: “Dear Lord, I’m in need of help today. Well, not me, my grandson.
      “He’s struggling a bit, but keep your hands on him and do the best you can for him, please.” Then I fell asleep.
      My eyes open suddenly. At the bottom end of the bed stands the figure of a man, and though I can’t see his face in much detail, I know it is the shape of Jesus.
      Then with a voice as clear as a bell, the figure says: “Everything will be OK.”
      Pure joy passes through me, like someone has just told me that I’m to be released from my prison sentence in the morning.
      It’s four o’clock in the morning and I feel like bursting out into song!
      At 6.45am I call Tyson to see how his boy is. “Everything’s all right, isn’t it, son?”
      “Yes, Dad, it is. You were right again. He came right in the night — some time between 3 and 4am.”
      Read More on The Sun
      After that moment, I sailed through the rest of my sentence.”

      When Fury Takes Over, by John Fury, (Macmillan) is out on Thursday, £22.

      John Fury’s book is out Thursday, for £22Credit: MacMillan More

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      in Soccer

      Who is Rebecca Loos’ husband Sven Christjar Skaiaa and do they have any children?

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      REBECCA Loos is now happily married to a man who she says is “nothing like” England football legend David Beckham.Dutch-born model Loos worked as the Beckham family’s PA during his time in Spanish football playing for La Liga giants Real Madrid.
      Rebecca Loos claimed in 2004 to have had an affair with David BeckhamCredit: Instagram
      Former England captain David Beckham has always denied affair allegationsCredit: BackGrid
      She hit the headlines almost two decades ago when claiming an affair with the former England captain – allegations Beckham has always denied.
      After finding fame through the Beckham controversy before eye-opening appearances on reality TV shows, she stepped back from the limelight in recent years.
      But she broke her silence about the new Netflix documentary about the ex-Manchester United, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and LA Galaxy midfielder.
      She now has a family she is bringing up in new homeland Norway, the native country of her husband Sven Christjar Skaiaa.
      Read More On Rebecca Loos
      Who is Rebecca Loos’ husband Sven Christjar Skaiaa?
      Rebecca met Norwegian doctor Sven when she appeared on Scandinavian TV programme 71 Degrees North.
      He was working on it as a behind-the-scenes medic.
      He has served as a physician with the Royal Norwegian Air Force, spending time in the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service and since 2016 as a Search and Rescue specialist.
      She left London in 2008 moving to Norway with him after becoming pregnant with their first child.
      Most read in Football
      Rebecca told The Sun in 2018: “Sven is an outdoor man and mountain lover and was not prepared to move to London – so it was I who moved to Norway so we could bring our son up together.
      “I thought to myself that if it doesn’t work out in Norway I can always move back to London – that was 10 years ago.”
      She has highlighted their relationship as a reason to be grateful for the fame she found amid the Beckham scandal.
      She said: “I like the way my life has taken me.
      “If I hadn’t been famous, I would not have been invited on the TV show where I met my husband Sven and had my lovely boys – I would not have had the life I have now.”
      When did Rebecca Loos marry Sven Christjar Skaiaa and how long have they been together?
      Rebecca has insisted she knew Sven was “the one” but was initially in no rush to get wed.
      Yet she later changed her mind and couple married in a low-key ceremony in 2012.
      They have now been together for 14 years.
      Rebecca says of Sven: “He’d never have an affair in a million years.
      “He’s different to David.
      “I would never cheat or lie to Sven because I love him so much.”
      Do Rebecca Loos and Sven Christjar Skaiaa have any children?
      Sven and 46-year-old Rebecca bought and settled in an old farmhouse in southern Norwegian mountains, in the tiny hamlet of Hemsedal.
      They have two sons – 14-year-old Magnus and Liam, 10.
      She told The Sun of her new lifestyle as a yoga teacher enjoying topless hiking, foraging for food and moon worship in the Norwegian wilderness.
      Rebecca said: “Now I spend my time practising yoga, running, biking and hiking and foraging for wild food for my two young sons.
      Read More on The Sun
      “Life is very different.”
      David and Victoria Beckham addressed the controversy in their Netflix docCredit: BackGrid
      Rebecca has said she’s grateful her time in the spotlight helped her meet SvenCredit: Getty More

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      in Soccer

      Lionesses Millie Bright & Rachel Daly back The Sun’s Footie For All Fund

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      LIONESSES Millie Bright and Rachel Daly have backed The Sun’s Footie For All Fund.We have teamed up with Tesco’s Stronger Starts programme to give away £150,000 of grants to grassroots youth football clubs in crisis.
      Millie Bright and Rachel Daly have backed The Sun’s Footie For All FundCredit: Getty
      Millie said: ‘It’s amazing what The Sun and Tesco are doing to support local teams and it will help a lot of kids keep playing’Credit: Instagram
      Rachel with her ball and medal as a footie-mad kidCredit: Instagram
      England’s World Cup captain Millie, 30, said: “It’s amazing what The Sun and Tesco are doing to support local teams and it will help a lot of kids keep playing.
      “Maybe it can help some of them become Lionesses.”
      The Chelsea defender added: “As a kid, my parents had a hard time getting me away from a football pitch.
      “But it wasn’t something I knew I loved until some friends took me to a local club, Killamarsh Dynamos, and then it became my focus.
      Read More on Football
      “It opened up a whole new world to me aged nine and without playing when I was little, I wouldn’t be where I am now.
      “It’s heartbreaking to hear some kids won’t get the same opportunities because their parents can’t afford it.”
      Funded by Tesco’s Stronger Starts campaign — which provides healthy food and activities for children across the country — we will dish out 150 grants (each worth £1,000) to clubs across the country.
      We launched our Footie For All campaign this year to shine a light on how financial struggles were forcing kids to give up the national game.
      Most read in Football
      According to the charity Sported, around 94 per cent of grassroots clubs were concerned about the impact soaring costs were having on their membership.
      In the wake of our probe we have been inundated with the stories of local youth sides making a huge difference to their communities, while struggling to cover costs.
      Millie’s team-mate Rachel Daly, 31, added: “Growing up, I have some of my happiest memories playing with Killinghall Nomads.
      “I can’t imagine my childhood without football and I don’t want anyone else to go without because of rising prices.
      “It’s so important to keep the game accessible — that’s why I’m backing The Sun’s Footie For All campaign.”
      HOW TO APPLY
      WE want to hear the story of YOUR club and the big difference you are making to kids and your community.
      If you are a not-for-profit grassroots football club in England, Wales or Scotland working with youngsters under the age of 18, you could be eligible for one of our 150 grants.
      Funds can be used for anything that encourages more children to take part in the sport – such as pitch fees or to sponsor funded places for children who can’t afford membership.
      Applications must be made by October 29.
      To apply and for full T&Cs, see the website below . . . 
      www.tescostrongerstarts.org.uk/footiefund More

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      in Soccer

      Bradley Lowery’s mum speaks out as football yob Dale Houghton admits mocking her son’s death at Sunderland game

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      BRADLEY Lowery’s mum has spoken out after a shameless footie yob admitted to mocking her son’s tragic death.Heartbroken mother Gemma said the sickening behaviour of Dale Houghton was like a “dagger to the heart”.
      Bradley Lowery’s mum Gemma hit out at a sick troll who mocked her son’s deathCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Dale Houghton sparked fury over the vile act
      Houghton will be sentenced next monthCredit: Facebook
      Houghton, 31, was snapped using a picture of the youngster to mock Sunderland fans during Friday’s game against Sheffield Wednesday.
      The thug today admitted causing harassment, alarm and distress.
      And Gemma slammed him for showing no “remorse” after his shameful act.
      Speaking to The Mirror the 40-year-old said: “To be honest when I first saw it I was upset and a little bit angry, using my child in a negative light.
      Read More in Football
      “However as the day went on and I saw the impact and the backlash the men got.
      “I’m the sort of person who tries to see the good in people, so I started trying to justify their actions, they’ve just been beaten 3-0.
      “But then I got sent some messages from a group chat they’d been in which you can clearly see there was no remorse.
      She continued: “They said that Bradley shouldn’t have got special treatment and that’s when it really, really hit us.
      Most read in Football
      “It was like a dagger to my heart and I got really really upset about that. What they did was intentional and they had no remorse for doing it.
      “That’s when I thought ‘actually you are not very nice people and you deserve to be punished’.”
      Houghton now faces a maximum of six months in prison for the Public Order offence when he sentenced on November 17.
      And he will be made to attend a drug intervention programme after testing positive for cocaine, the court heard.
      Football fans were left horrified after the pictures from the game were circulated on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday.
      Prosecutor Jade Short said Houghton’s antics caused a “huge public revulsion”.
      She also told the court the shamed football fan found it “enjoyable banter” as he was smiling throughout.
      Sunderland fan Bradley captured the nation’s heart during his battle with neuroblastoma, but succumbed to the illness in 2017. 
      He was a mascot for his beloved club and, in the months before his death, led England out at Wembley alongside former Black Cats striker Jermain Defoe.
      Ex-prem star Defoe also blasted the heartless fan for his disgraceful act on Friday.
      The former Sunderland striker struck up a close friendship with Bradley, six, before his death from cancer in 2017.
      He told MailOnline: “My thoughts at this time go out to Gemma and Carl [Bradley’s parents], who shouldn’t have to deal with incidents like this, but rather be praised for the amazing work they are doing with the Bradley Lowery Foundation in their son’s memory.
      “I urge the public to stand behind the family and continue support the Foundation and its projects.
      Read More on The Sun
      “Bradley was one of the most inspirational children this world has ever seen, and he will never stop inspiring us.
      “We love and miss you Brad. Love, your best friend forever.”
      Ex-prem star Defoe blasted the heartless fan for his disgraceful act on FridayCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      in Soccer

      How a scheme to support local football clubs is benefiting whole communities

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      BECAUSE of a developmental disorder, 11-year-old Sean had been rejected by every local football club. Until, that is, his parents took him to Bangor Saints FC, where he was welcomed with open arms.“At Bangor it doesn’t matter who you are or what level you’re at, because we see our job as supporting young people,” says Daf Roberts, 46, a postman whose roles at the club include coaching coordinator, safeguarding officer and equality champion.
      Daf Roberts (right) with one of his many hats at Bangor Saints FC
      Daf tried Sean in various positions, then one week he gave him the goalkeeper’s gloves. Sean was outstanding, and that season he won the club’s Golden Gloves award.
      “When we announced it at the presentation, his joy was overwhelming,” Daf recalls.
      “His parents cried. They told me Sean’s dream was to be accepted and be part of a team, and he is – he’s a fantastic lad.
      “People join the club thinking it’s about scoring goals, but in fact they learn to mix regardless of background.
      “They learn respect, teamwork and life skills, and their fitness improves,” adds Daf, who was named 2023 FAW (Football Association of Wales) Grassroots Spirit of Football Award winner.
      Founded in 2014, Bangor Saints has expanded from two to seven teams; these range from under-sevens to under-17s, and the club numbers around 100 players.
      The value of a local sports club to a community is enormous, but it’s not cheap to run.
      There are league and FA affiliation fees, pitch hire, kit, referees… the list goes on, especially for those with clubhouses and changing rooms to heat and maintain.
      When Bangor was expanding in 2018, it needed funds and applied for a grant through the Tesco Bags of Help scheme (now called Tesco Stronger Starts).
      Working in partnership with the charity Groundwork, the supermarket has awarded over £100million to more than 50,000 local projects through its funding programmes.
      These include 6,000 schools, over 2,000 sports teams and 2,300 other youth organisations.
      Customers can participate by voting in their local stores to support projects, or even nominate them.
      “Community is the central pillar of our purpose at Tesco,” says Christine Heffernan, the company’s director of group communications.
      “We’re proud that together we can help make a difference in our customers’ communities and to their friends and families.
      “We’ll provide information about the projects so they can vote for them in every store and support their favourite cause.”

      An allocation of £1,000 to Bangor Saints meant the club could buy new portable goalposts and enough kit to run new teams.
      “Schemes like Tesco’s are a massive bonus for clubs like ours in an area where the cost of living crisis is biting,” says Daf.
      “Parents can’t really afford much. Fundraising and awards like this take the pressure off parents and enable the club to flourish.”
      Tesco recently launched its new grant programme, Stronger Starts, which is committing £5.3million to schools and children’s groups, funding healthy food and activities.
      It has already received over 5,000 applications for the first round, showing the scale of support needed.
      For help reaching local clubs and causes that could benefit from support, the supermarket chain has teamed up with The Sun’s Footie For All campaign.
      The newspaper launched Footie For All after it was revealed that 94 per cent of clubs nationwide were struggling and that many young players were dropping out because their parents could not cover costs.
      “It’s clubs like Bangor who see first hand the difference these opportunities can make to young people’s lives when they’re moving, motivated and mentally energised,” says Christine.
      “That’s why it felt right to extend the reach of our Stronger Starts funding to grants to ensure any child can play football, and take away the worry about paying for subs or kit.
      “Ensuring children thrive means we’re also ensuring our communities thrive. By encouraging mental, physical and social skills in an environment where there is a sense of enjoyment, participation and teamwork, we’re benefiting the wider future population and locality too.”

      Apply for a Tesco Stronger Starts grant now
      Tesco Stronger Starts is open to any local club or charitable scheme. Add your support by voting for local groups using the blue tokens in your Tesco branch
      To find out more head to tescoplc.com/strongerstarts
      Hear all about The Sun’s Footie For All opportunities here. More

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      in Soccer

      The Sun launches Footie For All Fund to help protect kids’ clubs hit by the cost-of-living crisis

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      THE Sun is today launching a landmark Footie For All Fund to help protect kids’ clubs hit hard by the cost-of-living crisis.We have teamed up with Tesco’s Stronger Starts programme to hand out £150,000 worth of grants to grass roots youth football clubs struggling with funds.
      The Sun is launching our landmark Footie For All Fund to help protect kids’ clubs hit hard by the cost-of-living crisisCredit: Oliver Dixon
      Harry Redknapp has backed The Sun’s Footie For All FundCredit: Louis Wood
      Gary Lineker has backed The Sun’s Footie For All FundCredit: Doug Seeburg
      The cash can be used in any way that encourages more children to take up the sport or improves access to the game.
      Perhaps you are a local team that wants to offer parents help with membership fees.
      Maybe you need new kits or more pitch space to play on.
      Grants can also be used to help with transport or general running costs.
      READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
      Earlier this year we launched our Footie For All campaign to shine a light on how financial struggles were forcing kids to give up football.
      Figures showed that 94 per cent of grass roots clubs were concerned about the impact soaring costs were having on their membership, according to charity Sported.
      In the wake of our probe we have been inundated with stories of local youth sides — who make a huge difference to their communities — struggling to cover their costs.
      Clubs across the country also told us how some kids are being forced to drop out altogether as families can not pay their membership subs or for kit and transport.
      Most read in Football
      So today we urge grass roots clubs to apply for one of our fantastic £1,000 Footie For All support grants.
      Launched in conjunction with Tesco’s Stronger Starts campaign — which funds healthy food and activities for children — we will dish out 150 grants in total to clubs across the country.
      Christine Heffernan, Tesco group communications director, said: “The Tesco Stronger Starts grant programme provides £5million of funding to get more children and their families access to healthy and nutritious food and physical activities.
      “We thought that The Footie For All programme would be a great extension to that to help kids to thrive.
      “Any child should be able to do physical activity they enjoy if they wish, taking away the worry about paying for subs or kit for example.”
      Our campaign is being backed by big names in the game.
      Match Of The Day host Gary Lineker said: “I think grass roots is vital.
      “That’s where everyone starts. Some of us finish at the top, some don’t, but we all enjoy it.”
      Sun columnist Harry Redknapp added: “Grass roots football is important, and we need to ensure there are facilities for kids.”
      Reality star Joey Essex is also keen to see kids keep playing.
      He said: “Football provides an escape for so many kids from whatever else is going on. The Sun is offering families a lifeline.”
      To apply for one of our grants, see tescostrongerstarts. org.uk/footiefund.
      Grants will be awarded by The Sun with charity Groundwork, which runs Tesco’s grant-giving programmes, on a rolling basis.
      Applications must be made by October 29.
      SOMERTON TOWN
      YOUTH football club Somerton Town, Somerset, kept its membership subs frozen for three years to help families cope through Covid and the cost-of-living crisis.
      But organisers had to raise them from £95 to £120 this season after rises of up to 30 per cent in costs.
      Somerton Town kept its membership subs frozen for three years to help families cope through Covid and the cost-of-living crisisCredit: Chris Balcombe
      Since it was founded in 2001, Somerton have played a unique social role for its 187 players, across 11 teams.
      Chairman Justin Davies, 40, says: “We have a huge catchment area that contains areas with large-scale social and economic deprivation.
      “Playing football teaches young people about teamwork, respect and fair play.
      “Little things like shaking hands before and after a match to show respect to the other team is important.
      “When we put the prices up, 21 players left, with 20 not going on to join another club. It was a financial decision.”
      Justin Davis said: ‘Playing football teaches young people about teamwork, respect and fair play’Credit: Chris Balcombe
      HACKNEY WICK FC
      AFTER leaving prison in 2019, Bobby Kasanga started Hackney Wick FC, in East London, to stop other children falling into a life of crime.
      It now has more than 180 children on its books and a waiting list of even more who want to be part of its teams.
      For many families, the club is a way to keep their children on the right path – and Bobby, 37, who spent eight years inside for armed robbery, never turns anyone away.
      He says: “We try to do as much as we can to alleviate financial stress and often let kids play without paying or offer discounts if a family has multiple kids with us.
      “We’ve seen it getting worse recently, but we know turning anyone away could see them get taken in by gangs.
      “If we can’t have them, the gangs certainly will.”
      To play a year at Hackney costs around £250.
      But Bobby and his team are writing off around £5,000 of unpaid subs because they know families can’t afford it.
      He says: “We rely on our sponsors and they’ve been amazing.
      Last year, one covered the cost of 20 kids for a year. But it’s hard to keep our heads above water.”
      The club’s relationships with local businesses provide more than just financial help.
      Bobby says: “We’ve had four of our players taken on by one of our sponsors.
      “It means they have a stable income and a potential career for life.
      “That’s so important for helping them stay out of danger.
      “But even if they end up going down a bad path, the club relationships across the whole of East London may help diffuse violent situations.
      “They may stop an attack because they know the other gang member from football.”
      Bobby adds: “I never want anyone to go through what I went through growing up.
      “We are a family and I won’t take football away from them over money.”
      BLACKBURN EAGLES
      LIKE other clubs, Blackburn Eagles have also seen more kids struggling to pay – but it never turns anyone away.
      The club, which is the biggest in its area with 650 players on its books, feels it is vital for all kids to have access to the beautiful game and tries to keep its fees low.
      Blackburn Eagles feels it is vital for all kids to have access to football and tries to keep its fees lowCredit: BLACKBURN EAGLES
      In fact, the academy’s vice-chairman, Chris Hughes, 39, says prices have not been put up in around eight years.
      He adds: “We don’t turn anyone away.
      “We just take more children, create new groups, create new training sessions and create new teams.”
      But the club has recently had to take teams out of the Junior Premier League due to the cost of the four-hour round trips to play other teams across the North West.
      Chris says: “Football gives kids a good focus and can be a massive part of certain children’s lives.
      “It might be the one thing they’ll look forward to all week, and sometimes it gets them out of situations where maybe they don’t want to be at home all the time.”
      HOW TO APPLY
      WE want to hear the story of your club and the huge difference you are making to kids and your community.
      If you are a not-for-profit grassroots football club in England, Wales or Scotland working with youngsters under the age of 18 you could be eligible for one of our 150 grants.
      Funds can be used for anything that encourages more children to take part in the sport.
      Perhaps your club needs help with pitch fees or wants to sponsor funded places for children who can not afford membership.
      To apply and for full T&Cs, see tescostrongerstarts.org.uk/footiefund.

      WHAT THE STARS SAY

      A young Phil FodenCredit: Instagram @philfoden
      Phil says football ‘brings happiness for so many people’Credit: Getty
      “GRASSROOTS football is where it began for all of us.
      “It brings happiness for so many people and it’s so important nothing gets in the way of everyone having that opportunity.”

      A young Harry MaguireCredit: Instagram
      Harry says ‘playing with a team gives kids an outlet and a chance to learn discipline’Credit: Getty
      “I SPENT my childhood with a ball at my feet.
      “Playing with a team gives kids an outlet and a chance to learn discipline and to make friends with people they might not have met.”

      A young Raheem Sterling
      Raheem said that as a kid he ‘fell in love’ with football and ‘made friends for life’Credit: Getty
      “MY mentor got me in to football to correct my behaviour.
      “I found something I wanted to put my energy in to.
      “I fell in love with it – and I made friends for life.”
      READ MORE SUN STORIES

      A young Jarrod Bowen
      Jarrod said ‘football is for everyone and it’s massively important it stays that way’Credit: Getty
      “WE can’t let kids see their dream die simply because Mum or Dad can’t afford to pay for the subs, kit and travel.
      “Football is for everyone and it’s massively important it stays that way.” More