Lionesses ‘devastated' at death of young footballer, 10, hit by car on sports pitch
The Lionesses have paid tribute after a young footballer was killed when a car ploughed through her training pitch where she was trying to realise her dreams of playing for Manchester United.
Poppy Atkinson, 10, was killed by a car that smashed through a barrier and hit two girls at a football session at Kendal Rugby Union Football Club on Wednesday evening.
In an emotional tribute, Poppy's family said she idolised England stars Ella Toone and Georgia Stanway, as well as Kobbie Mainoo in the men's team and Argentine Lionel Messi.
Stanway, who is also from Cumbria, posted a tribute to Poppy on X, writing: 'Devastating. Sending all my love and condolences to the family and all affected.'
The Bayern Munich player added: 'The football world will miss you Poppy. You will always play a special role.'
Leah Williamson, captain of the Lionesses, posted on Instagram: 'Such tragic, tragic news! My thoughts are with family, friends and teammates. I can't begin to imagine your loss. RIP Poppy.'
A second child, an eight-year-old girl also from Kendal, was taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries.
Cumbria Constabulary said there is no indication to suggest that this collision was a deliberate act.
A 40-year-old man from Lancaster arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving has been released from custody. He remains under investigation.
Paying tribute to her, Poppy's family said: 'Poppy was the focal point of our lives, everything for us revolved around Poppy's love for football. Poppy touched so many lives, it was easy to see why, her energy, character, spirit and passion for football was infectious and touched huge numbers of people.'
They added: 'The hole in our lives and so many around us that Poppy leaves is enormous, we will never be whole again. This world has lost a spirit like no other, she was a force of nature. She was so special, she was too good for this world.'
An emotional video from March 2024 has since resurfaced on Instagram, showing one of her coaches urging a disappointed-looking Poppy not to be afraid to make mistakes on the pitch.
In the viral clip Poppy, seemingly inspired by his speech, points to the back of her Lionel Messi strip and the coach said: 'Even Messi does it. The more comfortable you are making mistakes, the better player you're going to be.'
Her beloved Manchester United also put out a statement responding to the tragedy: "On behalf of Ella, Kobbie and everyone at Manchester United, we send our heartfelt condolences to Poppy's family and friends for their devastating loss. Rest in peace Poppy."
Poppy played for Kendal United's under 12 girls' team, and the club described her as "our much-loved player".
"Poppy's love for football shone through to all who met her and she was an inspiration to her teammates," a spokesperson said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
24 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Man United 'enquire about move for Gianluigi Donnarumma' as they continue to hunt for new goalkeeper - but face major stumbling block
Manchester United have enquired over a move for Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma as they continue to hunt for a new shot stopper, according to a report. The Red Devils are on the search for a new No 1 this summer as uncertainty continues around the future of current goalkeeper Andre Onana. Onana joined the club in a £47.1million deal two years ago, but has endured an indifferent time at Old Trafford and various reports have suggested the club are looking at replacing him this summer. One of the goalkeepers who has been widely linked with a move to United is Aston Villa 's Emiliano Martinez, who appeared to wave goodbye to the fans at Villa Park at the end of the season ahead of a potential move away. Though no progress has been made on that deal, a number of moves have seemingly been made elsewhere, and one report suggests that Donnarumma is on United's shortlist. According to ESPN, United officials would be keen to bring the Italian to the club, but face a major stumbling block. That stumbling block is that, according to the report, Donnarumma, who was one of the heroes of PSG's Champions League success this season, doesn't want the move. The 26-year-old is widely regarded as one of the best shot-stoppers in the world, and pulled off a number of impressive saves - including against the likes of Arsenal - to help his side lift the Champions League for the first time. England fans will also remember him from his Euro 2020 heroics, which saw him save three penalties as England lost to Italy in the final of the competition at Wembley. The report states that United and Inter Milan - the team PSG beat in the final of Europe's premier competition, have enquired about a move for Donnarumma, contacting his agent, Enzo Raiola. His current deal is up at the end of next season, meaning he could be available at a cut price if PSG and the player can't come to an agreement on a new deal. Donnarumma, though, has made it clear he wants to stay on after the end of his current deal, telling Sky Italia while on international duty: 'My priority is to stay at PSG. I don't think there will be problems with the negotiations.' PSG's sporting director Luis Campos is also understood to be keen on Donnarumma staying at the club, though has reportedly lined up Lucas Chevalier - France's No 2 - as a replacement. Donnarumma joined PSG five years ago from AC Milan on a free transfer, and has made 154 appearances in all competitions for the French champions. Podcast All episodes Play on Apple Spotify United, meanwhile, reportedly made contact with Aston Villa over signing Martinez in the winter transfer window. United, who endured a miserable campaign - finishing in 15th and missing out on European football for just the second time in 35 years - were looking to bolster their squad ahead of a difficult second half of the season. They stuck with Onana, though, but that could change this summer. Martinez moved to Aston Villa five years ago from Arsenal and has shone, reaching the Champions League quarter-finals this season.
Daily Mail
37 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The hunky father of seven personal trainer who has moved in with England star Millie Bright after she pulled out of Euro 2025
England football star Millie Bright has moved on from breaking up with her fiance - by starting a new relationship with a hunky personal trainer, MailOnline can reveal. The Lionesses defender, who last week dramatically pulled out of Euro 2025, has been dating father-of-seven David Zetolofsky, 39, for several months. Chelsea ace Millie, who is now recovering from a knee op, said that she had decided to withdraw from the England squad because she was unable to 'give 100 percent mentally or physically' in the upcoming tournament. Behind the scenes however, 31-year-old Millie has been consoling herself over her Euros disappointment by taking her relationship with the buff trainer up a level - with him now moving in, friends say. The Chelsea star met Mr Zetolofsky at a Surrey gym which he both owns and works in as a fitness coach - and where she regularly works out. They met after Millie was newly single after her engagement to previous partner Levi Crow - also a fitness coach - didn't work out. Mr Zetolofsky was also freshly back on the dating scene after his marriage to the mother of his seven children broke up shortly before he met Millie Mr Zetolofsky and Millie are understood to have grown increasingly close after his marriage break up and her split from American born fitness coach Levi culminating in him asking her out. There is no suggestion either Millie or David cheated on their previous partners and indeed they are not thought to have even spoken until they were both single. Mr Zetolofsky runs the popular gym in Redhill, Surrey, which is just a stone's throw from the £400,000 new-build end-of-terrace home where he now lives with Millie after her fiance moved out some months earlier. Their relationship since has been the talk of the gym where she is the most famous client and he the high profile owner. A source said: 'The relationship between Millie and Dave is the talk of the gym – everyone knows about it. 'They have got very serious very quickly. They were both getting over failed relationships when they met and obviously really clicked. 'Since then things have accelerated very quickly. They are spending a lot of time with each other and now David has now even moved in. 'They seem really happy together - they're into each other big time.' Mr Zetolofsky's wife Katie, who is also a director at the gym the former couple own together, has remained in the family home. Levi Crow meanwhile is understood to have moved to Dubai to begin a new life there without Millie. Millie's break up with Levi had stunned those that knew them. As well as the couple themselves their families were said to have been close. Millie and Levi had moved in together to a home they were very proud of in Surrey. And this period culminated in December 2023 when Levi romantically proposed during a dream winter holiday to Mauritius. Millie couldn't wait to announce the engagement to fans, posting a picture of her flashing a diamond engagement ring, writing: 'Little did I think this would be the most beautiful Christmas in my entire life… I said YES after the shock had settled and Levi reminded me yes or no.' Addressing her now fiance she added: 'You was already my person but here's to the future bubba. I love you.' She has also referred to Levi as her 'king' who was with her 'through thick and thin'. She even has a tattoo of his eye on her arm which has been shown prominently in official squad photos. But fans noticed she had removed any mention of him from her social media accounts and deleted the engagement post. Millie has undergone minor knee surgery after a stellar season with Chelsea, winning the treble and finishing unbeaten domestically. Explaining her decision to miss the Euros, she said: 'Ultimately, I thought this was the best decision for the team, but also for myself and using this summer to really just zone into mentally, physically, getting myself back in tip-top condition and just happy again, I think, all round, just feeling like myself. 'So yeah, it's obviously hard, but I'm going to be the girls' number one supporter and I know they're going to go on and smash it.' On her social media she has made no mention of Zetolofsky and on Monday posted an image of her knee in a brace as she watched TV and played Crash Bandicoot. She later posted an image of a flower with the caption:' You are so worthy of the love you keep giving everyone else.' Millie became the third player to withdraw from Sarina Wiegman's Euro plan. Former England No1 Mary Earps announced that she was retiring from international football in bombshell news last week, with Wiegman believed to have been caught off-guard by the decision. And long-time England star and Bright's former Chelsea team-mate Fran Kirby also announced her retirement, three years on from starting in all six of the Lionesses' games on the road to their Euro 2022 triumph.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Man United 'slap hefty price-tag on Alejandro Garnacho amid five-way battle for the winger' after Ruben Amorim told him to find a new club
Manchester United have reportedly set their asking price for Alejandro Garnacho ahead of his expected Old Trafford exit this summer. The Argentine winger is set to leave United after being dropped from the starting line-up for the team's Europa League final defeat by Tottenham last month. Alejandro subsequently branded United's season 's***', while his agent brother claimed he had been 'thrown under the bus' by manager Ruben Amorim. Mail Sport revealed last month that Amorim responded to Garnacho's comments by telling him to find a new club in front of his team-mates at United's Carrington training ground. There is no lack of interest in Garnacho, but he is unlikely to leave the Red Devils on the cheap with United slapping a £70m price-tag on the 20-year-old, according to The Independent. It is understood that five teams are monitoring Garnacho's situation, including Premier League duo Chelsea and Aston Villa. European giants Napoli, Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen are also keen on Garnacho. A move to Leverkusen would see Garnacho reunited with ex-United boss Erik ten Hag in Germany. Garnacho is viewed as one of United's sellable assets this summer given his age, while he also still has three years remaining on his contract. Amorim wants a major squad overhaul, with the likes of Marcus Rashford, Antony and Jadon Sancho also in line to follow Garnacho out the exit door. United have already made one signing this summer after they completed a £62.5m deal for Matheus Cunha on the opening day of the transfer window. They are also pursuing Bryan Mbeumo and Viktor Gyokeres as Amorim bids to bolster his attacking options. Mbeumo and Gyokeres could both cost in excess of £60m, meaning United need to raise funds in sales, and Garnacho could bring in a significant transfer fee.
