Message Rams Home
09 Jul 2010
As part of its increasingly visible ‘No Messin' campaign Network Rail has joined forces with Derby County FC to host a youth football tournament.
Over 150 youngsters turned out at Derby County FC's Moor Farm training ground recently to improve their game and learn how to stay safe on the railway. Twenty teams from local groups battled it out to be crowned tournament champions. Groups ranged from under 12s to under 18s with each group winner and runners up taking home a No Messin' trophy.
Network Rail's award winning No Messin' campaign and the club's Derby County in the Community scheme (DCITC) joined forces at the beginning of the year to educate young people on the dangers of trespassing on the railway and to provide them with a variety of alternative, positive and fun activities, such as football.
Since the partnership launched, the team's goal is to reach around 9,000 youths in Derbyshire with the rail safety message by visiting schools and community youth centres and arranging football tournaments and other activities. Derby is a recognised hot spot for trespass and vandalism by young people on the railway.
Says Mark Tarry, area general manager, ‘It's fantastic to see the youngsters so enthusiastic and excited about being given the chance to play at Moor Farm. They're doing something valuable with their time and most importantly something they enjoy whilst learning about the potential dangers the railway poses, which is what the partnership is all about.
‘We look forward to continuing to work closely with DCITC to roll out the rail safety message to the wider community and replicating the success of today's tournament.'