Redcar football team join Wish Sport appeal to fund new equipment

Lakes United FC was founded to help take children and young people off the streets of Redcar. But much of the equipment is now 15 years old and desperately in need of being replaced or repaired

A football team is hoping for help in repairing old equipment.

Lakes United FC was founded to help take children and young people off the streets of Redcar.

But much of the equipment is now 15 years old and desperately in need of being replaced or repaired.

Now the group has signed up to the Gazette’s Wish Sport 2014 campaign in the hope of raising cash towards the cost.

Lee Addison, of the club, said: “Lakes United FC is a community team, developed by the community for the community.

“We have over 30 players from all over the Cleveland area if which train on a Wednesday night and play fixtures on a Sunday.

“Lakes were developed to take the children and young adults off the streets of Redcar, this happened over a period of time and has been seen to pay dividends.”

The Gazette has teamed up with Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation, which is providing £30,000 to share between not-for-profit sports groups across Teesside.

Tokens will be printed in the Gazette every day from Monday, July 7. The more tokens collected, the greater the share of the prize pot.

There is an online twist to this year’s campaign comes. The tokens collected will be worth a share of £25,000 with the remaining £5,000 up for grabs during two special Wish Sport online bonus days.

All groups will be in with a chance during the online bonus days to win a share of the additional money pot - the four who receive the most readers’ votes on http://ift.tt/1md60Qe will bag the cash.

Steve Gibson, whose Teesside-based firm Bulkhaul are patrons of the Philanthropic Foundation along with Middlesbrough FC, said: “Middlesbrough FC exists not simply for what can be achieved on the pitch on a Saturday afternoon but to make Teesside a better place to live.

“We are a force for good in the local community. Both the football club and Bulkhaul are proud to be working with so many like-minded business and individuals in supporting the Philanthropic Foundation’s outstanding local work.

“Wish Sport is another excellent example of it, helping grass roots sport thrive.”

Lakes United entered last year’s Wish Sport campaign and used the money to offset the cost of training for the players.

To help them this year send your tokens to 31 Thames Road, Redcar, TS10 1PW.