A SCUNTHORPE junior football club is believed to be the first in North Lincolnshire to introduce a total smoking ban at its ground.
As reported in the Scunthorpe Telegraph, Park Tigers JFC will implement the ban today (Friday, March 31) and prohibit smoking anywhere at Charles Le Quelenec Park on Brumby Wood Lane.
The decision to take action was agreed following a meeting of the club’s committee and team managers earlier this month.
Club chairman Dominic Smith said: “The proposal was brought to the committee because of concerns that had been raised.”We noticed a number of spectators and team officials smoking around the pitches and instances where the players were exposed to it at close hand.
“We just did not feel this was acceptable.
“As a club, we want to offer opportunities to as many youngsters as possible to get involved with football and reap the benefits of being active and healthy.
“Allowing smoking to take place around football seemed to conflict with that aim.”
The club, which was formed in 1975, currently runs 10 teams – ranging from under 7s to under 16s – with around 120 players registered in the local Caparo and Jack Kalson football leagues.
Opposition clubs and spectators will be made aware that the ground, which has five pitches, will now be totally non-smoking, including e-cigarettes.
“We realise some people will not agree with it, but when we put the decision to a vote the support for a smoking ban was overwhelming,” said Mr Smith.
“Some of our team managers are smokers, but they too wholeheartedly supported the proposal.
“We launch our popular summer Saturday club for five to nine-year-olds at the start of April and we get scores of youngsters of all abilities at the ground each Saturday morning from 10am to 11.30am.
“We therefore felt that this was a good time to implement the ban and set a good example for the next generation of players.”
It is not the first time the club has led the way in local junior football, being the first in the area to gain FA Charter Standard status.
“We hope that other clubs will support our stance and fully expect others to follow our lead,” said Mr Smith.
Anyone interested in getting their child involved in playing football can contact Park Tigers’ training officer Dave Craig on 07754 296908.
Story and Images courtesy of Scunthorpe Telegraph, Read more at http://www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/club-stubs-out-smoking/story-30238997-detail/story.html#IgHvgAoWSFG50eyK.99
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