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    I was scared when 40ft pylon fell on my car but England star Trent Alexander-Arnold comforted me…I keep replaying crash

    A MUM was left terrified after a 40ft pylon fell on her car in an accident involving Trent Alexander-Arnold before the footballer comforted her.Louise Wright, 41, had just turned out on to a wet country lane near Knutsford, Cheshire, when a 40ft electric pylon smashed into her car last month – as first revealed in The Sun.
    England star Trent Alexander-Arnold rushed to help weeping mum after 40ft pylon fell on her car in Storm BabetCredit: SWNS
    Louise Wright, 41, was left horrified after the shocking incidentCredit: SWNS
    Bewildered and shocked, the mum-of-two noticed a Range Rover ahead of her and went to go and check on the driver  – finding out later it was the Liverpool ace Trent, 25.
    The shaken Liverpool star was seen getting out and making sure everything was ok.
    The high-voltage power line, weighing around half a ton, smashed down right in front of the England ace’s £90,000 Range Rover with Storm Babet causing 70mph winds.
    Louise, a stay-at-home mum, who lives near Knutsford, said: “I had just been to a gym class.
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    “I was turning out the junction at hardly any speed. There was this massive bang and the car stopped.
    “I could see there was a car in front that had crashed.
    “I thought  – ‘something bad has happened’.
    “I got out and went to the car.
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    “He opened the door and I asked if he was ok.
    “At the time I was running off adrenaline.
    “I broke down in tears when I got in the car with Gareth.
    “I keep replaying it. I might not be here if it had gone through the windscreen.”
    The pylon pierced Louise’s white BMW on the passenger side and she claims Alexander- Arnold’s car had damage on the front passenger side.
    Now Louise and her husband, Gareth, 40, say they face £650 in excess and high premium rates on their insurance for the next five to six years, following the crash.
    Louise and Gareth, a communications director, claim it wasn’t windy and are not certain the pylon came down because of Storm Babet.
    Gareth said: “It wasn’t windy that day but it was really wet.
    “If she’d been a metre forward it would have come through the windscreen.
    “She was really shaken by it.”
    Louise added: “It’s been quite a big stress for us as a family.”
    Police arrived on the scene shortly after the incident and gave Louise Alexander-Arnold’s insurance details.
    Gareth and Louise’s insurance company have written to Alexander-Arnold and are awaiting a response.
    They say the accident could cause them around a £1,000 a year on their insurance by making a claim.
    Luckily the car is repairable but will cost £16,800 to fix.
    It comes as Manchester United star Marcus Rashford rushed to help a woman driver after a horror crash in his £700,000 Rolls-Royce.
    The Prem striker had just left United’s Carrington base before the smash in September.
    Read More on The Sun
    He got out of the car without trouble and immediately went over to make sure the female driver was unhurt.
    Rashford and his teammates had returned from Turf Moor aboard a team coach.
    Trent Alexander-Arnold avoided death by inches after a 40ft electricity pylon was uprooted in treacherous 70mph windsCredit: Getty More

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

    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.
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    “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.
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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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    Luis Diaz’s mum holds back tears in emotional plea as she urges guerrilla kidnappers to release Liverpool star’s dad

    LUIS Diaz’s mum fought back tears today as she urged her husband’s guerrilla kidnappers to release him from his eight-day ordeal.Cilenis Marulanda made her impassioned plea as she took part in a second march to demand Luis Manuel Diaz’s freedom.
    Liverpool’s Diaz (L) with his mum and dad Luis, who remains captiveCredit: Supplied
    Wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with her husband’s face and the message “your family is waiting for you”, she told reporters: “I want them to release him now.
    “That the people who are keeping him free him now back to me, because we want to have him back home.”
    The 58-year-old was taken hostage at gunpoint alongside his wife on Saturday October 28 at a petrol station in Colombia.
    The kidnap by communist ELN rebels is believed to have been masterminded by a 40-year-old female fighter called Patricia.
    Colombian authorities have offered a reward of $200,000,000 Peso (£40,600) for Luis Diaz’s return.
    The kidnap sparked outrage in the South American nation, where Luis Diaz is immensely popular and plays for the national team.
    CCTV footage showed the Díazes being followed by men on motorbikes in their hometown of Barrancas, in the northern province of La Guajira.
    Gunmen then accosted the couple at a petrol station, leaving Cilenis, before police closed in.
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    Protests demanding Luis’s release took place in their home town today.
    Police have been combing the mountainous Serranía del Perijá area near the Venezuelan border for Diaz during a frantic week-long hunt.
    The horror meant Liverpool winger Diaz missed two games for his club but he appeared in Sunday’s fixture against Luton.
    Colombian authorities had offered a reward of $200,000,000 Peso (£40,600) for his returnCredit: AFP More

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    Major update in hunt for gang who kidnapped Liverpool star Luis Diaz’ parents as cops ‘closing the net’ on suspects

    COLOMBIAN police say they are closing the net on the gang who kidnapped Liverpool star Luis Diaz’s parents after identifying some of the suspects.Alejandro Zapata, deputy director of the country’s Policia Nacional, said he was not in a position to name names.
    Colombian authorities have provided a major update in the search for the dad of Liverpool forward Luis DiazCredit: Rex
    Luis Manuel Diaz has been missing since Saturday after being kidnapped by armed gunmen in ColombiaCredit: AFP
    Diaz’s mother, Cilenis Marulanda, was also taken but was later rescued after being found in the city of Barrancas the same nightCredit: Supplied
    But he said investigators were “clear about people who could be linked” to Saturday’s abduction of Luis Manuel Diaz and Cilenis Marulanda in their home town of Barrancas.
    Mr Zapata confirmed investigators were treating the kidnap as a “premeditated crime” which had been meticulously planned.
    He added: “When something like this happens, it is generally not spontaneous and there has been previous planning, people that draw people to a certain place, that is, who place them somewhere so that others arrive and that’s what we are investigating.”
    He also spoke about the possibility that Luis Manuel was smuggled into Venezuela following the rescue of the Liverpool striker’s mum just hours after the abduction.
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    Mr Zapata said: “What we know is that the kidnap occurred in La Guajira and it’s close to the border of course.
    “We don’t have any evidence at the moment indicating he has been taken across the border, we can’t say that’s what’s happened, but we can’t rule it out either.
    “It’s very possible his captors look to the possibility of fleeing to Venezuela.”
    Appearing to support the idea the gang who have Luis Manuel are in hiding and have not managed to cross into Venezuela, Mr Zapata’s boss William Rene Salamanca Ramirez told Colombian media: “I can’t give any information on that and I want to be very prudent.
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    “I myself flew over an area you’d cross in and they would have to cross the Perija Mountains and I don’t think a human being could survive that.
    “We were trying to put some commando units into that area and we couldn’t because of the dense jungle vegetation.
    “An army blockade has been in place in the lower part of the mountains which would be the normal route into Venezuela.”
    Colombia’s Attorney General Francisco Barbosa had confirmed earlier it was possible the winger’s dad could already be across the border.
    He said Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro would be asked to help free Luis Diaz’s dad if it emerged that was the case.
    A reward of up to £40,000 has been offered by the authorities for information.
    A man described as the best friend of Luis Manuel Diaz told a Colombian radio station the footballer’s dad and his wife had been heading to the home of a relative of Cilenis.
    Victor Medina said: “It was 5.30pm local time on Saturday. They had filled up with petrol and then went to a neighbourhood nearby to collect something from a relative of Celinis.
    “There the captors arrived, four men on motorbikes.
    “They threatened them with weapons, made them get into the same vehicle and sped off with the other two on a motorbike tailing them.
    “They headed for a rural area. The authorities were informed and there was a chase.”Luis’ mum has yet to speak publicly about her ordeal.
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    She was abandoned by her captors by the roadside as the hunt to catch them intensified.
    The men holding the footballer’s father are said to have fled with him on motorbikes.
    Portuguese forward Diogo Jota held up Diaz’s shirt after scoring the opening goal in Liverpool’s 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on SundayCredit: EPA More

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    Cops still searching for Liverpool star Luis Diaz’s dad after terrifying kidnap in Colombia as mum rescued and freed

    COPS are continuing their search for Luis Diaz’s dad after he and the Liverpool star’s mum were kidnapped in Colombia before she was freed.It comes after earlier reports suggested Luis Manuel Diaz was rescued during a police shootout that left two of his captors dead.
    Luis Diaz’s dad has reportedly been rescued after his parents were kidnapped in Colombia
    Luis Diaz in action for Liverpool in August 2022Credit: Getty
    The Liverpool FC striker’s parents were taken hostage on Saturday near their home in Barrancas, Colombia.
    It comes after his mum, Cilenis Marulanda, was freed from her captors and was pictured overnight enjoying a tearful reunion with relatives, with Diaz’s dad still reportedly missing.
    Liverpool FC released a statement today confirming it was aware of the ongoing situation involving Diaz’s parents.
    “It is our fervent hope that the matter is resolved safely and at the earliest possible opportunity,” they said.
    READ MORE ON LUIZ DIAZ
    “In the meantime, the player’s welfare will continue to be our immediate priority.”
    Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said it was a “worrying situation for all of us”.
    Colombian police have announced that they are prepared to reward anyone who will provide crucial information into the kidnapping of Diaz’s dad with £40,000.
    William Rene Salamanca Ramirez, the director general of Colombia’s National Police force, was today filmed speaking with the 26-year-old winger on his mobile phone from an undisclosed location in La Guajira where he travelled to after the kidnap took place.
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    He told the footballer, referring to him by his nickname of Lucho: “Dear Lucho, you’re talking to William Salamanca the director of Colombia’s National Police.
    “I am here in La Guajira on the orders of Colombia’s President to lead and supervise the operation to rescue your father.
    “Last night we managed to rescue your mother and she is safe and well.
    “We are here and using all the air and land resources available with the support of the Colombian Army”.
    The police chief spoke to the Liverpool player after Colombia’s Ambassador to the UK Roy Barreras described the kidnap of Luis’ parents as “miserable” and said their liberation was being seen as a “national priority.”
    He said in a direct message to the captors after it was confirmed Cilenis had been rescued but Luis Manuel Diaz was still missing amid fears he was already in Venezuela: “Mr kidnappers: In addition to a heinous crime, you have committed a terrible mistake!
    “You have offended the flag of Colombia, the shirt that I am sure you have also worn to shout the goals of the Colombian National Team that unites us all.
    “You still have time. Avoid a greater tragedy. It will turn out badly for you! Correct the error Free Lucho Díaz’s father now.”
    The Colombian army said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday: “Army troops support the search operation for the parents of soccer player Luis Díaz, who apparently are victims of kidnapping.”
    Diaz has not been included in Liverpool’s squad to face Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
    Local media in the La Guajira region earlier reported the footballer’s dad had been freed following a shootout with police which resulted in the deaths of two of the four kidnappers.
    The incident is said to have happened near an area called Los Barrancones as the captors headed towards Colombia’s border with Venezuela.
    They reportedly had the intention of smuggling him into the neighbouring country.
    But there has not yet been any official confirmation, however, that Luis Diaz’s dad has been rescued.
    The reports emerged as a man described as the best friend of Luis Manuel Diaz told a Colombian radio station the footballer’s dad and his wife had been heading to the home of a relative when they were taken hostage at a petrol station.
    Victor Medina said: “It was 5.30pm local time on Saturday.
    “They had filled up with petrol and then went to a neighbourhood nearby to collect something from a relative of Celinis.
    “There the captors arrived, four men on motorbikes.
    “They threatened them with weapons, made them get into the same vehicle and sped off with the other two on a motorbike tailing them. They headed for a rural area.
    “The authorities were informed and there was a chase.”
    Responding to claims there was an exchange of gunfire before Cilenis was rescued, Medina said: “I haven’t had the chance to speak to her yet.
    “It’s a difficult situation. She’s back at home with doctors because we know she arrived quite distressed after what has been a trauma for her.
    “We’re just waiting for everything to calm down a bit before we speak with her.”
    He added: “Luis Manuel Diaz is a person who is much loved in Barrancas and there’s never been any talk of threats.
    “He and his family are highly appreciated in this municipality and that is why he always felt calm and safe here.
    “But there is always going to be someone who wants to harm a family, a family which is bringing a lot of glory and a lot of recognition to Barrancas.
    “The general public rejects acts like this targeting a much-loved and respected family in our municipality.”
    Diaz is Colombia’s biggest star and has scored nine goals in 43 appearances for the national side.
    His father previously revealed the Liverpool ace suffered from an illness which caused him to lose a dangerous amount of weight.
    The tricky winger went from “chubby” to extremely skinny which could’ve cost him his life.
    Diaz was born and raised in the heartland of Colombia’s largest indigenous community.
    His football skills impressed scouts, including Colombia legend Carlos Valderrama.
    After scoring seven goals at the 2015 Copa Sudamericana de Pueblos Indigenas, Diaz’s career began to take off.
    Read More on The Sun
    Atletico Junior sent him on loan to Barranquilla, where he was put on a special diet to gain 10kg.
    Diaz crossed the Atlantic to join Porto in 2019, before moving to Liverpool in January 2022.
    The Liverpool ace’s parents were taken near their home while on their way to a relatives houseCredit: Getty More

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    Jude Bellingham’s incredible dream to play for BARCELONA leaked… hours before Real Madrid star plays in El Clasico

    JUDE BELLINGHAM had the one dream you keep secret before your El Clasico debut.That’s if a school ‘snitch’ is to be believed!
    Judging by his expression in training as Real Madrid prepare for El Clasico against Barcelona, perhaps Jude Bellingham knows his ‘guilty secret’ is outCredit: EPA
    Bellingham’s head was in the clouds if this display board is true
    The new £115m Real star has amazing stats in his first LaLiga campaignCredit: Reuters
    Revealing that Bellingham loved Adam Sandler movies might be considered embarrassing enough.
    But the kid who claims he was a Year 10 colleague of Real Madrid’s new hero also insisted England’s hottest talent wanted to play for BARCELONA.
    Bellingham lines up at Real’s fiercest rivals on Saturday after 11 goals in 12 games since his £115million arrival from Borussia Dortmund.
    The midfielder was signed more for his all-round gifts than his strike rate.
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    So the 20-year-old has made a staggering start to his career in Spain by anyone’s standards.
    But – according to a TikTok post from a ‘school-mate’ – Bellingham had OPPOSITE plans for his life in LaLiga when he was aged about 10.
    Photos uploaded to the social media site include a display board disclosing the kids’ fantasies for the future.
    And a scrapbook is notable for a photo apparently of the ex-Birmingham ace, captioned: “Point of view: You went to primary school with Jude Bellingham.”
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    The young Brummie is outed as an admirer of Sandler – who by then had featured in The Wedding Guy and The Waterboy but has more recently had top roles in Hustle and Uncut Gems.
    Bellingham is said to have listed talking too much as a bad habit – ironic as he seems so mature, relaxed and natural in interviews.
    And then came the killer confession under a section headed: “When I grow up I want to be…”
    In the top right the purported answer from Bellingham is: “A professional footballer for Barcelona and England.”
    If true, it was certainly a dream of two halves.
    He’s already won 27 caps after becoming the Three Lions’ third-youngest player ever – aged 17 years and 136 days against the Republic of Ireland in November 2020 aged 17.
    But playing for Barca at any stage would be a sensational development after he joined ‘El Clasico enemies’ Real in June this year. More

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

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

    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