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Tuesday 23 Nov 2004

PHOTOCALL: NEW FOOTBALL KIT FOR HASTINGS UNITED YOUTH TEAM

Region & Route:

| Southern

Date:                           27 November 2004 Time:                          2.30pm Location:                    Meet at Hastings United ticket office, The Pilot Field, Elphinstone Road Event:                         Hastings United Youth team, in their new kit, accept a sponsorship cheque from Network Rail Media contact:          Jenny Sacre, 020 7557 8107 jenny.sacre@networkrail.co.uk      Hastings United Youth Team will be celebrating on Saturday 27 November, without even scoring a goal. Two under-7 teams have secured a £500, year-long sponsorship agreement with Network Rail.  They have put this money towards a new, claret and sky blue kit and other football and training supplies. Ian Chapman, Network Rail Education Officer said: “Network Rail wants to promote railway safety. Each year trespass and vandalism is reported in the Hastings area, with children dangerously crossing the railway and even throwing objects at trains. By raising the profile of railway safety with this sponsorship we are hopeful that these thoughtless and irresponsible incidents will reduce. “Network Rail wishes the youth team great success for the rest of the season.” Dean Jinks, Hastings United Youth chairman said: “The team travel around the whole of East Sussex and their smart new kit will be seen by hundreds of other children and adults. Through our training we teach children both discipline and independence, and hopefully this will be replicated off the pitch and into their every day lives, encouraging them and their friends to stay away from the railway and stay safe.”