On 1st July, the 10th anniversary of England’s Smokefree Law, Bishop Auckland St. Mary’s Junior Football Club will become the first youth football club in County Durham to officially ask all spectators and club officials not to smoke or vape while attending their games.
The club committee took the decision to go smoke free earlier in the year to help protect the health of their young people.
Steve Coulthard, Chairman of Bishop Auckland St. Mary’s Juniors Football Club said: “Going smoke free at kids’ football seems like common sense.
“Our young people are athletes and we want to give them the best experience and start at football as we possibly can.
“Not allowing our young people to be exposed to smoking while they play football is one of the things we can do.”
Cllr Audrey Laing, Chair of the County Durham Tobacco Alliance said: “We know that children are influenced by what they see, and young people are most at risk of becoming smokers themselves if they grow up exposed to smoking behaviours.
“It is great that Bishop Auckland St. Mary’s Junior Football Club have taken this step. We hope more junior clubs will follow St. Mary’s lead.”
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
