Latest news with #TeamGrassroots
The Independent
08-03-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Youth football teams hold minute's silence for 10-year-old Poppy Atkinson
Youth football teams and grassroots clubs across the country have held a minute's silence at the start of their games to commemorate a 10-year-old girl who died after being hit by a car on a sports pitch. Poppy Atkinson was fatally struck by a BMW i4 electric car at a football training session at Kendal Rugby Club in Cumbria on Wednesday afternoon. A 40-year-old man from Lancaster who was arrested following the incident, in which an eight-year-old girl was also injured, was released under investigation on Friday, Cumbria Police confirmed. Team Grassroots, a grassroots football organisation for the UK, encouraged youth and local teams across the country to take part in their campaign, dubbed #1Minute4Poppy, at the weekend. In a poster shared on social media, Team Grassroots said: 'This weekend we encourage all teams to observe a moments silence before your games and please have Poppy, and her family in your thoughts. 'Send in your pictures and we will flood social media with your messages of support. 'No child should ever go to training and not return home.' Dozens of teams across the country have taken part already, with more expected to as the weekend continues. AFC Dunstable, in Bedfordshire, was one of the teams to observe the silence. Its under 15 girls' team held a minute's silence before their match against Berkhamsted Raiders. In a post on X, AFC Dunstable said: 'Our hearts go out to the families and everyone affected by this tragic loss.' Poppy's family said she wanted to be a footballer and was a Manchester United fan. The 10-year-old was in the Kendal United and county under-12 teams and had an ambition to play professionally for Manchester United. In a tribute issued by Cumbria Police, her 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. 'Poppy was 100% determined to be a professional footballer.' Her family said she idolised United and England players Ella Toone and Kobbie Mainoo as well as Lioness Georgia Stanway, all of whom have since paid tribute to her. Manchester United said in a statement on Thursday: '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.'
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Youth football teams hold minute's silence for 10-year-old Poppy Atkinson
Youth football teams and grassroots clubs across the country have held a minute's silence at the start of their games to commemorate a 10-year-old girl who died after being hit by a car on a sports pitch. Poppy Atkinson was fatally struck by a BMW i4 electric car at a football training session at Kendal Rugby Club in Cumbria on Wednesday afternoon. A 40-year-old man from Lancaster who was arrested following the incident, in which an eight-year-old girl was also injured, was released under investigation on Friday, Cumbria Police confirmed. Team Grassroots, a grassroots football organisation for the UK, encouraged youth and local teams across the country to take part in their campaign, dubbed #1Minute4Poppy, at the weekend. In a poster shared on social media, Team Grassroots said: 'This weekend we encourage all teams to observe a moments silence before your games and please have Poppy, and her family in your thoughts. 'Send in your pictures and we will flood social media with your messages of support. 'No child should ever go to training and not return home.' Dozens of teams across the country have taken part already, with more expected to as the weekend continues. AFC Dunstable, in Bedfordshire, was one of the teams to observe the silence. Its under 15 girls' team held a minute's silence before their match against Berkhamsted Raiders. In a post on X, AFC Dunstable said: 'Our hearts go out to the families and everyone affected by this tragic loss.' Poppy's family said she wanted to be a footballer and was a Manchester United fan. The 10-year-old was in the Kendal United and county under-12 teams and had an ambition to play professionally for Manchester United. In a tribute issued by Cumbria Police, her 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. 'Poppy was 100% determined to be a professional footballer.' Her family said she idolised United and England players Ella Toone and Kobbie Mainoo as well as Lioness Georgia Stanway, all of whom have since paid tribute to her. Manchester United said in a statement on Thursday: '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.'
BBC News
08-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Poppy Atkinson: Minute's silence held in Cumbria and across UK
Grassroots football clubs and youth teams are to hold a minute's silence this weekend in memory of a 10-year-old girl who was fatally struck by a car on a sports pitch. Poppy Atkinson was attending a football training session at Kendal Rugby Club in Cumbria on Wednesday evening when she died in the incident.A 40-year-old man from Lancaster, who was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, has been released, but Cumbria police say investigations are of clubs from across the country have paid tribute to Poppy and pledged to remember her ahead of their games, as part of a social media campaign started by South Shields-based Team Grassroots. A number of county associations, including Essex County Girls Football League, Sussex County FA and Notts County FA, are also backing the campaign and are encouraging their members to observe a minute's silence. Poppy's family say she wanted to be a professional footballer, and messages of condolence have been sent from some of the Lionnesses, including Barrow's Georgia Stanway, and Manchester United football the time, police said there was "no indication to suggest that this incident was a deliberate act".An eight-year-old girl, also from Kendal, was taken to hospital for treatment following the incident, but her injuries were not life-threatening. James Pattison, CEO of Westmorland County FA, said: "We fully support the minute's silence for Poppy Atkinson this weekend, and have asked it is held before all of our County Cup semi-finals happening over the weekend.""As a County FA, we have been working closely with all of our member clubs to provide support and advice where necessary, and will continue to do so, following the tragic events of Wednesday evening." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
