Non-league Basingstoke Town match shirts redesigned to feature seat belt for road safety campaign
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
Metro
3 hours ago
- Metro
Ian Wright pleads with Arsenal to 'pay anything' to keep hold of key duo
Ian Wright has pleaded with Arsenal to pay whatever it takes to keep two of Mikel Arteta's key players at the Emirates for their entire careers. Arteta got his sixth season in charge of the Gunners underway with a narrow 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford. There is plenty of pressure on Arsenal this season having finished runners-up in the last three campaigns, and the addition of a recognised striker in Viktor Gyokeres has only heightened those expectations of silverware. But despite Gyokeres' arrival, Arsenal's potential title charge is still likely to be predicated upon their rock-solid defence, which has been the league's best in the last two seasons. At the heart of that defence is the partnership between William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes who, once again, played a vital role in Arsenal's clean sheet at the weekend. Metro's new weekly football newsletter: In The Mixer. Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every Friday – sign up, it's an open goal. Gabriel has already committed his long-term future to the club by signing a new deal this summer, while there is hope that Saliba will follow suit despite interest from Real Madrid. But Wright urged the club to go even further and pay whatever it takes to ensure that both players don't leave the club until their playing days are over. 'You see how they celebrate tackles and finishing out games,'Wright said on the latest Arsecast podcast. 'We haven't got the best defensive record over the last few years, especially against Liverpool and City, for no reason. 'And this is where the 'One-nil to the Arsenal came from'. We talk about Tony (Adams) and (Steve) Bould as centre halves, but the only thing missing from these two is a Premier League win. 'I'm desperate for these two to win one because these two could go down as two of the best ever centre halves and I say that with all due respect. 'These two get into my team because they have everything, everything that we had back then. We've got 'One-nil to the Arsenal' back because of that defence and because of those two and what they are capable of doing; the personality, the way the boys look up to them in the dressing room, the fight. 'That's why you can go to United and play like we did and win – because of what those guys are doing at the back. 'And for me, I would pay them anything for them to stay for the rest of their careers here because they are two of the best defenders we have ever had at our club. More Trending 'And once they start winning things – which they will – then people will start saying, 'Yeah, I get it'.' Speaking after the win against United, Arteta was keen to praise his entire team for the effort in grinding out an important first win of the season. 'We showed it in a different way today, the Spaniard said. 'I think we did two things very well. One, to take the set-piece and then react to, especially, mistakes. Some of them are necessary, some of them unusual. 'But the way every single player reacted to that gives us the opportunity to win the game. If not, it's impossible. And that's about how we compete and how much we want it as a team.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Wayne Rooney urges Manchester United to sign two players before transfer deadline MORE: Man Utd lead race to sign former Arsenal target in £26m transfer MORE: When is the Champions League draw and when does the group stage start?
Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Alexander Isak has already rubbed up Liverpool icons the wrong way as club warned
Alexander Isak's attempt to force a move from Newcastle to Liverpool hasn't gone down well with everyone on the red half of Merseyside as the transfer saga of the summer drags on It's not just those connected with Newcastle United who are unhappy with Alexander Isak's behaviour this summer. The Sweden striker, who has been the subject of a £110m rejected bid from Liverpool, is trying to force a move away from St James' Park. Isak has been training alone after failing to travel for the pre-season tour of Asia. He also did not play a part on Saturday as Newcastle kicked off their Premier League campaign with a goalless draw at Aston Villa, where they failed to score against 10 men. Naturally, his stance has enraged the Magpies' hierarchy and the club's fans, who have branded the 25-year-old greedy and ungrateful. Key Liverpool figures have also been unimpressed with Isak's conduct, though, which could lead to some frosty exchanges should he eventually join the Reds. Here's what some Liverpool legends have said about the Isak transfer saga… Jamie Carragher The highest-profile member of the Liverpool media contingent says Isak has gone about his desire to leave Newcastle in the wrong way. The Sky Sports pundit told the told the i Paper: 'Transfers happen every summer but I don't think you should ever go toxic or nuclear where you refuse to play or train. That may be what forces the move in the end, so who am I to say it's wrong? But I just don't like it. 'They're paying his wages, they've been great to you, you've been great for them, just keep training, keep playing and hope a deal gets done.' Meanwhile, Carragher has issued a warning on Newcastle's £150million valuation, saying on The Overlap: 'It will be an amazing signing. But from a Liverpool fan point of view, I don't want the club to spend £150m on Isak.' He also cautioned that bringing in Isak for such a large fee would adversely affect another summer signing, Hugo Ekitike. Carragher added: "There's something about Liverpool buying a striker [Ekitike] for £80m, and he's a back-up. There's something about it that doesn't sit right to me." Dietmar Hamann Former Liverpool and Newcastle midfielder Hamann agrees that £150m is over the odds for Isak. The German said via Casino Sites: 'I think it'll be very hard for Isak to go back to Newcastle now. Even if he doesn't join Liverpool, they've got to find a way of trying to integrate him back into the team. "I suppose he will end up with Liverpool. But how are they going to play then? That remains to be seen. I wouldn't pay £150million. "I think £150million is a spicy price tag for him. He's a very good player. We know he can score goals in the Premier League, but I wouldn't mind if Liverpool start the season with Ekitike up top.' John Barnes Another player who represented both clubs in an illustrious career, Barnes is not enamoured with Isak's conduct. He told the Daily Mail: 'I am not a big fan of it. If you are playing for a club, you have a responsibility to be a good team-mate and character, the fans have been great to you, but this is modern football. 'It could work in favour for Liverpool in terms of him coming, but, after the club has served him well, there are ways to do something. I don't like the idea of players not training or turning up for something if they want to move. But this is modern football and we have to get used to it.' Andy Carroll Carroll made the move from Newcastle to Liverpool in very different circumstances in 2011, having not wanted to leave his boyhood club. The Gateshead-born striker, 36, now of Dagenham & Redbridge, has criticised Isak's conduct, claiming he has severed ties with Magpies fans. Carroll told Sky Sports: 'The way he's playing his cards at the minute, the Newcastle fans are not going to back him. He's not going to help himself and it's a shame because he's such a good player and every Newcastle fan wants him to stay. 'It's not really the same as me because it's not his club. The Geordies took him in and made him one of their own but when he wants to go, that's his mind changed." Michael Owen Owen has insisted Liverpool cannot be blamed for the transfer stand-off, insisting: 'This is not a strange scenario. It's a high-profile scenario, but it's the same scenario as what happens all the time. 'There are a lot of simple things that go into the discussion. From Newcastle's point of view, they've got a player who's under contract, and they've got to weigh up the balance of the finances, what they could receive, maybe having an unhappy player, or maybe keeping someone against his will.' John Aldridge Rather than Isak, ex-Reds striker Aldridge has taken a shot at Newcastle's handling of the situation, calling their valuation of £150million 'ludicrous'. In his Liverpool Echo column, Aldridge said: 'This is not Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. Isak is a top striker but that sort of fee for a player who clearly wants to leave and has even gone on strike to get it over the line I find incredible. 'It's a situation that has not been handled well up at Newcastle but even their Saudi Arabian owners must realise it might be for the best to move him on and reinvest that money.' Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. 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.
Metro
2 days ago
- Metro
Ian Wright names Man Utd star 'nowhere near good enough' against Arsenal
Ian Wright has blasted the performance of Altay Bayindir in the defeat to Arsenal and Manchester United's failure to resolve their issues in goal. The Gunners sealed a 1-0 victory over their old rivals at Old Trafford on Sunday with Riccardo Calafiori scoring the only goal of the game after 13 minutes. Declan Rice's excellent corner caused havoc for the United goalkeeper who found himself trapped on his line. His tame attempt to clear the ball fell straight into the path of Calafiori who headed home from close range. United perhaps deserved more from the game with Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo both superb on their competitive debuts, both denied goals by David Raya who was in excellent form in the Arsenal goal. Metro's new weekly football newsletter: In The Mixer. Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every Friday – sign up, it's an open goal. Ruben Amorim's side have spent £200million rebuilding their attack this summer with Benjamin Sesko also making his debut off the bench late on. Despite that considerable outlay, problems in goal remain. Andre Onana, who was not deemed fit enough by Amorim to make the squad on Sunday, has failed to convince in his two seasons at the club with Wright believing Bayindir is 'nowhere near' the level required. For all the promise United showed in attack, the Arsenal legend insisted that good work will continue to be undermined and undone unless they solve their problem in goal. 'We have seen what happens with Andre Onana, we see it with Bayindir today and he is nowhere near it,' Wright told Premier League Productions. 'Man United with the money they have spent, they need more goals and addressed that and I think Cunha and Mbeumo were very good today but what is the point when your goalkeepers are going to be that bad. More Trending 'I don't know what is happening with [Gianluigi] Donnarumma, I don't know if he's coming here but they [United] really need to sort that goalkeeping situation out because they have lost the game on that. 'It is a hard one to take. I thought [Matthijs] de Ligt played very well, Cunha played well, Mbeumo played well, they didn't deserve to lose it like that on a keeper's poor technique. 'It's a terrible way to lose the game.' MORE: Shocking stats behind Viktor Gyokeres debut as Mikel Arteta offers explanation MORE: Gary Neville urges Manchester United to sign £40m star after Arsenal defeat MORE: Roy Keane blasts 'shocking' Arsenal star after win over Manchester United
