Help to kick off football careers

The biggest youth football club in Bath has established a fund to help encourage young players from notso-well-off backgrounds take up the game.

Larkhall Athletic have launched the Larkhall Foundation to help low-income families afford the costs of joining a club and encourage more into sport.

The club’s website says: “We appreciate that the costs of membership and playing kit that are passed on to the playing members can be unaffordable to low-income families and individuals.

“To address this barrier, the club has created a foundation fund with the purpose of providing financial support to those in need to enable them to take advantage of all of the facilities and sporting opportunities within the club.

“Please contact us if you would like to consider making an application or know someone who may benefit. Also, if you know a company that may wish to contribute to the fund then please let us know.” ■ In an article last week celebrating the England Lionesses triumph in the Euro championships, we misrepresented the opportunities and the teams that are available to girls at Larkhall Athletic.

Chairperson Tez Frost said: “For many years, if girls wanted to practise they had to join mixed teams. Although girls and boys have similar abilities at a young age, we found it discouraged the girls joining. Now with offering girls only teams, at all age groups, we’ve seen the interest jump dramatically.”

We are sorry for any embarrassment caused by this error.