Non-league Basingstoke Town match shirts redesigned to feature seat belt for road safety campaign
A football club's match shirts have been redesigned to feature a seat belt motif as part of a road safety campaign backed by former England striker Ian Wright.
Non-league Basingstoke Town in Hampshire said it will use the one-off shirts for its home match against Merthyr Town on Saturday 26 April.
Instead of three vertical blue stripes, the new version has a single diagonal blue stripe.
The AA Charitable Trust, which is organising the stunt, will also display the message "Buckle Up" on perimeter boards, napkins, car park flags and beermats for the game at the Winklebury Football Complex stadium.
Wright, 61, who appears on The Overlap podcast, said: "Wearing a seat belt is the simplest thing you can do to protect yourself when you're in a car, no matter if you're driving or getting a lift.
"It reduces the risk of death in a crash by 50%."
Analysis by the AA Charitable Trust found 43% of passengers aged 17-29 who died in crashes on Britain's roads between 2019 and 2023 were unbelted.
The figure for passengers of all ages was 27%.
The analysis also found 29% of young drivers who die in crashes are not wearing a seat belt, of which 95% are male.
AA Charitable Trust director Edmund King said: "For any football club, young players are their most valuable assets and therefore ensuring they stay safe on the roads is vitally important.
"Research shows that teenagers are most at risk from serious injury as passengers or drivers when unbelted.
"Even on short journeys it's absolutely vital to wear your seat belt.
"We hope this initiative will inspire other clubs to consider backing our campaign and even switching their kits for a one-off match."
Drivers can be handed a £100 on-the-spot fixed penalty notice if they are caught not wearing a seat belt when they are supposed to.
If the case goes to court they could be fined up to £500.
The AA Charitable Trust has previously called for new drivers caught behind the wheel unbelted to be handed six penalty points, meaning they could lose their licence.
Basingstoke Town chairman Jack Miller said: "The seat belt kit is a striking reminder of a simple action that saves lives, and we're proud to wear it.
"Hopefully, it sparks conversations and makes a lasting impact."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Gary Neville's greatest Premier League XI - but he can't pick Man Utd players
Manchester United legend Gary Neville was forced to pick his all-time Premier League XI without including any players from his former club and some of his choices caused controversy Gary Neville was put on the spot to select his ultimate Premier League XI, with the twist of excluding any Manchester United players. The former Red Devils stalwart amassed 20 major trophies under Sir Alex Ferguson, which includes a haul of 10 league titles and Champions League trophies. Neville, 50, faced this challenge during a live edition of The Overlap in 2022, alongside Roy Keane, Jamie Carragher, and host Kelly Cates. The only caveat was that he was banned from selecting any players that represented his boyhood club. Despite traditionally hailing Peter Schmeichel as the top-flight's finest keeper, Neville had to pivot to Liverpool's current number one Alisson to adhere to the no-United rule. His defence also included Liverpool's commanding leader Virgil van Dijk, which surprisingly drew jeers from the audience, prompting Neville to clarify: "I don't think they heard that I can't pick United players!" Neville's defensive lineup was bolstered by Chelsea stalwarts with Cesar Azpilicueta and Ashley Cole taking the full-back spots, while his former England colleague John Terry was chosen to pair up with Van Dijk at centre-back. Despite the calibre of his selections, the crowd's disapproval persisted, leading a bemused Neville to retort: "Who the f*** do you want in?!" With his choices limited to non-Manchester United representatives, he went for a dynamic duo made up of Arsenal's Patrick Vieira and Liverpool's Steven Gerrard. Carragher, ever the joker, couldn't resist a jibe at his fellow pundit: "I can't believe he's picked Gerrard over Scholes!" Neville next looked to Manchester City for inspiration, picking the mercurial David Silva as his attacking midfielder, reports the Express. The task of sifting through thirty years' worth of attacking brilliance didn't faze him, though he was restricted to those who hadn't donned the United shirt. Mohamed Salah of Liverpool earned his spot on the right wing, joining an elite set of Neville's list to make four Liverpool players chosen. Over on the left flank, Neville paid homage to Arsenal's Thierry Henry, selecting him for his prolific goal-scoring exploits that matched Salah's record of four Premier League Golden Boots. Up front, there was little debate as Neville decisively chose the Premier League's record scorer Alan Shearer who netted 260 goals during his time in the top-flight. Despite some murmurings for Chelsea legend Didier Drogba from the audience, an unswayed Neville stood firm on his decision to anchor his side with the Newcastle great. Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Daily Record
Kilmarnock's Player of the Year Joe Wright becomes latest to leave as he secures Bradford City move
The defender exits the Rugby Park club after three seasons Joe Wright has become the latest player to confirm their exit from Kilmarnock after the defender penned a two-year deal at English League One side Bradford City. A move to the newly promoted Bantams marks a return to Yorkshire for the 30-year-old centre-back, who has stints at Huddersfield Town and Doncaster Rovers prior to moving north of the border. Wright was named Killie's Player of the Year for the 2024/25 season after a string of impressive displays in the heart of defence. He also netted the crucial winner away to Tromso to secure the club's victory over the Norwegians in the Europa Conference League third qualifying round in August. Speaking to the Bradford City official website after the signing was announced, Wright said: "After my hundred-plus games in Scotland and playing in Europe against sides like Copenhagen and Cercle Brugge, it helped me become a better player and a leader. "I have experienced some big crowds in Scotland, but I am excited to step out in front of twenty thousand fans at the University of Bradford Stadium. "I hope I can help the club's momentum from last season and help build a culture where we keep expecting to win and look to take on League One.' Wright becomes the fourth player to officially exit the club this summer. Strikers Bobby Wales and Innes Cameron have also moved south of the border, joining Swansea City and Barrow respectively, while winger Danny Armstrong also confirmed his departure earlier this week but hasn't secured his next move.
Rhyl Journal
3 days ago
- Rhyl Journal
‘If all goes well' Jofra Archer could make England Test return against India
A 14-man squad will travel to Headingley for the first Test, with Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jamie Overton and Bethell all returning after missing the season's curtain-raiser against Zimbabwe last month. Archer was not considered for duty due to a broken thumb, the latest in a long sequence of fitness issues that have seen him exiled from the longer format for more than four years. But the eagerness to see the X-factor quick back in whites remains undiminished, particularly with an Ashes winter coming up. 'If things go well… He should be available for the second Test.' 👀 🗣️ @LukeWright204 Speed guns at the ready 🔥 — England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 5, 2025 A potential route that sees him back in time to play at Edgbaston at the start of July has been mapped out, with a low-key outing for Sussex's second XI followed by a Rothesay County Championship game against Durham from June 22. Should he come through both assignments unscathed, the path could be clear for him to finally begin the long-awaited second chapter of a Test career that began with a bang against Australia in 2019. 'If things go well, he should be available for the second Test,' said selector Luke Wright. 'He's got to keep ticking off every day and getting no sort of setbacks, but if all goes well and Jofra gets through that Durham game, then he's available potentially for selection for that second Test. 'We'll watch him in that game for Sussex and see where he's at. He's such a talent, it doesn't take him too long to get up to speed. 'We can assess it from there: how he's bowled, how he's feeling, and if we want him to go for that second Test, we can asses as we go. We'll know more after that game.' With Gus Atkinson absent with a hamstring strain from the Zimbabwe game, England are expected to go in with a pace attack of Carse, Woakes and Josh Tongue. That would position Sam Cook as back-up to Woakes after a middling debut at Trent Bridge and Overton as cover for the quicker pair on his return to the Test squad after three years away. A thornier decision awaits when it comes to Bethell. England rate the 21-year-old extremely highly following his impressive maiden series in New Zealand before Christmas and he was in eye-catching form during the recent ODI clean sweep against West Indies. 'He's very close to it, it's a great option to have, isn't it?' Wright said of Bethell. Captain Ben Stokes has become frustrated at media speculation that Bethell could come in for his deputy Ollie Pope, who scored a fine century against Zimbabwe to seemingly shore up his spot at number three, but the question is not going away. Wright stopped short of offering an iron-clad promise that Pope would retain his position against India but both he and Zak Crawley appear likely to stay in place, in the short term at least. 'What a talent we all see in him. We'll get together when we get up to Leeds and announce that two days out from the Test,' Wright said. 'We'll consider everything: conditions, what has gone before. All of those considerations go into the melting pot.' England squad for the first Test against India: B Stokes (c), S Bashir, J Bethell, H Brook, B Carse, S Cook, Z Crawley, B Duckett, J Overton, O Pope, J Root, J Smith (wkt), J Tongue, C Woakes.
