The youth football season began in earnest on September 6 with over 200 children from Fairford, Lechlade and surrounding areas getting ready to play their first games for Fairford Youth Football Club (FYFC) since lockdown ended their 2019-2020 season, writes Chris Roberts.

Fairford Youth’s players also added some extra sparkle to the kit with gold bootlaces to support Shine Bright Support and raise awareness of Childhood Cancer Month.

In March 2018, Fairford Primary School student, Eleri Hooper was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma but, sadly, Eleri’s treatment didn’t work and she passed away in September 2019 surrounded by family and friends.

Although there is some psychological support for patients at the hospital where Eleri was treated, as with all NHS services, it is stretched to its limits.

Eleri’s mother, Bethan realised that if they needed support but couldn’t access it easily, then other families were probably having the same difficulties.

The idea was to raise money to provide help for these families when they needed it the most.

With the help of Laura Barber and Julianne Baker, Shine Bright Support was born.

As a student of Fairford Primary School, Eleri had a big impact on her peers and with many representing the youth football club, there was a strong desire from the children to do what they could to support Shine Bright.

Initially Fairford’s Under 8 Tornadoes’ coach, Sarah Sloman, contacted Bethan for her team to wear the gold laces, but word quickly spread and, before long, the whole club were on board, culminating with FYFC raising and donating £525 to Shine Bright Support.

FYFC chairman, Adam Sloman, said: “I don’t think there’s anyone in Fairford that isn’t aware of the amazing work Bethan and Shine Bright Support are doing for children and families dealing with childhood cancer – the gold laces started with one age group, but it’s really unified the whole club. We’re proud to help Shine Bright Support and we hope to do more to support them.”

Bethan Hooper, a founding trustee of Shine Bright Support, added: “It’s lovely to have the youth football club on board – the whole month of September is about raising awareness of childhood cancer and we think this will help to do that – the laces look fab in the kid’s boots too – hopefully it might even help them score a few extra goals!”

For more information, visit shinebrightsupport.co.uk