Stark message to stay safe on the roads

By John Lyons

RADIO One DJ Chris Stark has joined forces with County FAs and Non- League clubs to stress the importance of staying safe behind the wheel in the coming season.

Picture: Alamy

In a video filmed at Corinthian-Casuals’ ground in Tolworth, Stark delivers a passionate ‘Team Talk’ about issues like speeding and mobile phone use which can potentially have a life-threatening consequence.

It’s part of the launch of a major new THINK! campaign, which is the UK government’s designated road safety initiative. While casualty figures overall have plateaued, young male drivers aged 17-24 are still four times more likely to be killed or seriously injured than drivers aged 25 and over.

Stark, who also co-hosts ‘That Peter Crouch Podcast’, said: “Every football fan knows that the banter around the sport is part of the magic. And even though driving your mates to football games isn’t possible right now, you don’t want to put yourself or others at risk by getting distracted on a group chat or speeding home to watch England play in the Euros.”

As part of the County FA partnership, clubs and teams are sharing their own video clips which can be seen within the Team Talk film.

County FAs and clubs backing the campaign include The Amateur FA, Bedfordshire FA, Berks & Bucks FA, Burnham FC, Cheshire FA, Corinthian-Casuals FC, Lancashire FA, London FA, Northumberland FA, Somerset FA, Surrey FA and West Allotment Celtic FC.

Former professional footballer and Burnham chairman Glenn Skivington was devastated when his son Luca, 17, himself a promising footballer, was killed in a car crash in August 2019.

“I just want to spare another family going through the trauma of losing a son or daughter, a brother or sister, a best friend in such a totally avoidable and senseless manner,” he said.

“I hope that through THINK!’s partnership with the County FAs, the whole football community can come together to spread positive messages about safe driving.”

● You can check the video out at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qImzYPacZkw