HUNDREDS of young athletes will shift into top gear (today Saturday) as a family motor dealer supports their efforts for football glory.
Vauxhall dealer Sherwoods has backed Darlington 21st All Stars as it stages its 24th annual Junior Football Tournament, promising two days of fiercely competitive sport.
Staged at Longfield Academy, Darlington, the spectacle has attracted 140 teams from across the country, including Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Great Ayton and as far away as Nottingham.
Around 1,500 boys and girls, across eight age groups, will compete for a host of silverware in one of the biggest and most prestigious tournaments in the country, which takes a year to plan.
Sherwoods managing director Alasdair MacConachie said: “Just as Vauxhall is proud to sponsor the England football team, we are absolutely thrilled to support our national game at the grassroots level.
“Football is incredibly important to young people. It engenders teamwork and competitiveness, promotes activity that is so valuable to health and wellbeing and enhances a sense of community.”
The event will also be an opportunity to promote the work of St Teresa’s Hospice, Darlington, and raise money for a soon-to-be-opened 10-bed inpatient unit, with the chance to win a Vauxhall Viva.
David Bell, the chairman of Darlington All Stars, which has 350 members in 24 teams, said: “It is an amazing weekend and the culmination of a great deal of planning, commitment and dedication on the part of volunteers, coaches, parents and the young players themselves.”
Tournament organiser Stuart Burkin added: “Our aim is to give young people purpose and a passion while keeping them active, motivated, fit and healthy.
“We could not achieve any of this without the continued support of the community, of organisations such as Sherwoods and Longfield Academy of Sport. It is a fantastic relationship and one we hope to continue in the future as we expand the game to include more girls and people with disabilities.”
The first games kick off at 9.30am with matches playing until 4pm on Saturday and Sunday. Spectators are welcome and admission is £2.