Football club in Scunthorpe raises knife crime awareness after teen death in Sheffield. Game proceeds go to charity.
Bottesford Town FC will play Penistone Church FC as part of their campaign, “Drop the Knife, Get a Life.” Stabbing incidents happened in both Scunthorpe and Sheffield. A 15-year-old, Harvey Willgoose, died in Sheffield, prompting the game.
Volunteers will offer guidance to young people and discuss the dangers of knife crime. People can donate money at the game, with donation buckets available. A quarter of entry fees will go to charity, and all proceeds will help The Crosby Association, located in Scunthorpe.
Steve Altoft is the Club Secretary and talked about the event. He mentioned the club has a good relationship with Penistone Church FC, adding that Harvey Willgoose’s death pushed them to act.
The club wants to stand up against knife crime. Altoft said they want to educate their lads, stating carrying knives is unacceptable. Penistone is happy they are holding the game, as the incident impacted their community a lot.
The club likes to support the community and wants to educate on issues besides football. All money raised will support The Crosby Association, which tackles crime in Crosby, a problem area in Scunthorpe. It costs £7 to enter; £2 goes to charity.
Altoft explained the main goal is education. They want youths to understand the danger, as showing off knives has become common. Altoft, who works with many young people, finds this trend frightening.
Everyone can attend the match. The club wants a large crowd and enjoys people watching them play. Bottesford Town FC versus Penistone Church FC starts at 3pm on Saturday.