CHESTERFIELD Football Club is helping to drive the message of 'No Smoking' home with its newly emblazoned 'community' van.
The Club's award winning "Football in the Community" coaching team visits local schools and clubs in Derbyshire to hammer home the dangers of smoking to the county's youngsters.
Now Derbyshire County Primary Care Trust has sponsored the team's van in a bid to help get the message out to young people and share information on local services.
First team footballers Jamie Lowry, Lloyd Kerry (pictured above) and Derek Niven are backing the plans to help tell youngsters how smoking can damage your health.,
Midfield dynamo Derek, who battled testicular cancer for a year before getting back into action with the club in March, said: "As a footballer staying fit and healthy is part of my job but now more and more people are recognizing the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and kicking smoking into touch."
And the Spireites joint leading goalscorer Jamie, who is keen to get the messages about looking after your health into schools, said: "Not all that long ago it was thought cool and grown-up to smoke but now everyone realises the serious damage it does to your health so the goal for any smokers must be to quit or best of all don't even start."
Tina Jones, Derbyshire County Stop Smoking Service manager, said: "It's great we've joined up with Chesterfield FC to push these messages because young people really look up to their role models and it's fantastic that our local football team are so hands on.
"One single cigarette immediately affects your ability to exercise constricting your blood vessels and reducing your ability to perform well or endure in sport.
"It increases fatigue and can stop youngsters reaching their full athletic potential. It's important for young people to remember this if they have aspirations of being like their heroes."
The Club, which provides football coaching for youngsters at local schools, a Saturday morning soccer school and a holiday child care club, was recently given a bronze status by the Football League Trust.
It received £24,000 for its work and this is being invested in local community activities.
For more information on stopping smoking visit: www.derbyshirehps.nhs.uk/Content-StopSmokingService
