Tesco to the rescue

Struggling Rotherham Rangers, who had more than £1,000 of gear stolen last month, have been rescued by supermarket giant Tesco.

Tesco stepped to provide balls and equipment while the Football Association also showed their support by organising a training session last weekend.

The newly-formed junior football club were dealt a blow to their survival when a ride-on lawnmower was stolen along with around 50 balls from their ground in Rawmarsh.

But Mick Webb, a Tesco community challenge team member working at the Chesterfield store, spotted a story in the Advertiser about the equipment being stolen.

Mick thought Tesco should help save Rangers because around 50 children would be affected if they folded.

Tesco replaced balls, bibs and other equipment Rangers needed within a week and then set to work on helping set up the training session.

Working with the FA Skills organisation two soccer coaches travelled up from Derbyshire while staff at the Maltby Tesco store also agreed to help.

The Maltby workers contacted Maltby Main FC, a club they had helped in the past, who handed Rangers a £100 cheque.

The Maltby Tesco store also chipped in a further £50 to give the Rangers a much needed boost.

Samantha Griffiths and Bobby Gregory from FA Skills laid on a much appreciated training session, with all those taking part receiving stickers and key rings.

Tesco’s community champion Richard Haigh said: “It was incredibly important to the club, to the young people, parents and club officials involved to see how important their club is to the FA and the wider football community.

“I can’t thank Sam and Bobby enough for there huge commitment at short notice and in their own time.”

Rangers, formed for local boys and girls only last year, is in its first season in the Sheffield and District Junior Football League, fielding teams at under-nine, under-seven and under-six levels.

Football training is provided by the club for youngsters and the club also organises a soccer academy to give children their first steps into football with an age group of six and under.