Trimley Red Devils under-10s boys' team are celebrating receiving a Team Sport Award donation from UK Power Networks

Youngsters at a Trimley St Martin football club have been kitted out for the new season thanks to power company funding.

Trimley Red Devils under-10s team has received a £250 Team Sport award from UK Power Networks, the company which distributes electricity across the East of England.

Employee Matthew Scrivener, a project engineer based in Bury St Edmunds, whose son Connor plays for the team while he volunteers as a referee during games, applied for the award for the squad which will be spent on new tracksuits.

Matthew said: "As with other sports clubs, the coronavirus pandemic had an impact on last season, ending the campaign early, but hopes are high for this campaign. The club has worked hard to put all the necessary safety measures in place for training and games to restart.

"The club will be using the money to purchase new matchday tracksuits tops for the team. The award will come in extremely handy and we are very grateful for it as all of the other events to help raise funds had to be cancelled this summer due to lockdown and restrictions.

"I have been refereeing for several years now and really enjoy it, I took it up when my eldest son Jamie started playing. I also help out with setting up equipment before matches such as goalposts and banners."

The Team Sport Award scheme encourages UK Power Networks staff to volunteer in the community and is aimed at promoting healthy living, teamwork and development of sporting opportunities.

Hundreds of community and sports groups have benefited from grants since the scheme was set up. Last year over 70 teams benefitted to a combined sum of more than £18,000.