Media centre

Tuesday 15 Aug 2006

MIDDLESBROUGH FOOTBALL CLUB BACKS NO MESSIN’ LIVE! STOCKTON EVENT TO GET KIDS ON THE RIGHT TRACKS

Region & Route:

No Messin’ Live! – a free two-day event in Stockton packed full of activities for 10- to 16-year olds – was given the backing  of Middlesbrough Football Club’s England hopeful Stewart Downing and teammate Lee Cattermole on 14 and 15 August. The event was one in a series of 10 taking place during the summer holidays, and formed part of Network Rail’s national campaign to reduce death and injury on the railway by giving young people ideas about positive ways to spend their time.  In the past year, almost 50 people were killed and hundreds more were injured either crossing the tracks, taking short cuts, messing around or playing chicken, and Stockton is a hotspot for this kind of activity. Stewart Downing said: "I think the No Messin'! Live campaign is a fantastic idea. I'm tempted to say that it's on the right track. Seriously, it's an important message that I would advise young people to take notice of. Train lines can seem like good places to explore but the fatal accidents that happen tell a different story. Network Rail is clearly looking at the problem from a different slant so I wish everyone well with the campaign. The more young people that hear the message the better." And teammate Lee, who grew up in Stockton, added: “I was shocked to hear that as many as 50 people a year die on rail lines. That's a terrible statistic, so it's great that positive action is being taken to try and tackle the problem. If it saves one life it's worth it but hopefully it will save the lives of a lot of young people and grief for their families and friends. So many schemes like this sometimes seem a little bit uncool for the kids they are aimed at but this one is clearly different so it's got every chance of making an impact."   The young people who attended the two-day event had the chance to try out a range of activities in three zones – sport, gaming and music – including football, DJ-ing, a climbing wall and a surf simulator. Local organisations, such as the East Durham Amateur Boxing Club and the North East Football Academy provided sports coaches for the two days and will be hoping to recruit young people to carry on with their new hobby once the tour has moved on. Local radio, sports clubs and TV also dropped into Stockton to support the campaign, which is backed by boxer Amir Khan, DJ Dave VJ and athlete Roger Black. Network Rail’s Dyan Crowther, Route Director for the London North Eastern region, said:  “We’re really grateful that Middlesbrough Football club have given their support to No Messin’ Live!  These players are an inspiration to the young people of this area that there are loads of great activities young people can get involved in, which – unlike playing on the railway – don’t involve the risk of injury, disfigurement and death.” The No Messin’ Live! campaign isn’t just for the holidays.  Network Rail is already working with local youth clubs and community groups in Stockton and will leave something tangible behind that young people can continue to use after the tour has moved on.