Media centre

Tuesday 29 Nov 2005

NETWORK RAIL AND CARDIFF CITY FC JOIN FORCES TO TACKLE RAILWAY CRIME

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western

Network Rail has presented Cardiff City FC with £20,000 to support their “Football in the Community” scheme that involves footballers and coaches warning children in Cardiff and the Cardiff Valleys of the dangers of playing on or around the railway. Mark Langman, General Manager for Wales & the Marches, said: “We have a number of railway crime ‘hotspot’ areas in South Wales and sooner or later one of these incidents will lead to serious consequences.  “Cardiff City FC’s Football in the Community programme provides curriculum time coaching in schools and holiday courses for children in these hotspot areas.  The coaching sessions not only help children to learn and develop new skills but also deliver safety messages to educate children about the dangers of trespassing on the railway.” Lee Robinson, Cardiff City FC’s Football in the Community Manager, said: “We are now into our third year of sponsorship with Network Rail.  The partnership has flourished throughout our regions, particularly within primary schools in Cardiff, Rhondda Cynon Taff and Caerphilly.” To celebrate the continuing partnership with Cardiff City FC, Network Rail held a No Messin’! safety quiz in schools.  The winner, a young Cardiff City FC supporter, was presented with an i-Pod by Network Rail at last night’s game between Cardiff City and Ipswich Town.  Based on the premise that many young people are tempted to play on tracks because they are bored and have nothing else to do with their time, Network Rail has also developed the ‘No Messin’!’ campaign to encourage a diversion from unsafe activities, rather than trying to change behaviour through shock tactics.  Gary Wilmot, Cardiff City FC’s Football Development Officer for the Rhonnda region, concludes: “Children have taken part in the No Messin’! campaign both through poster work and through the competition.  More importantly, the group discussions highlighted the dangers of rail safety and the children came up with the answers.”