The Sun’s brilliant Footie for All campaign up for award after being hailed by Harry Redknapp & Olly Murs

THE Sun’s brilliant Footie for All campaign has been nominated for a prestigious award honouring campaigning journalism.

Our brilliant campaign which ran during the last football season in partnership with Tesco gave grants totalling £300k to hundreds of grassroots kids’ football clubs across Britain.

Paul Edwards

Olly Murs hailed The Sun’s Footie For All campaign, which funds grassroots clubs across the country[/caption]

Harry with young Milford footballer Jack Gunner after joining kids on the pitch in April this yearChris Balcombe - Commissioned by The Sun

Now it is up for the ‘Making a Difference’ Award as part of Journalism Matters week – and you can VOTE NOW.

England football stars including Phil Foden, John Stones and Harry McGuire backed our drive to fund kids football.

We launched our ‘Footie for All Fund’ after a Sun investigation found financial pressures triggered by the Cost of Living Crisis were forcing kids to ditch recreational football.

Tesco provided our Footie for All grants through its Stronger Starts programme which funds healthy activities for kids.

Celebrities and stars of the game dropped in on our grant recipients for suprise training sessions and to find out how funds were being used.

Harry Redknapp,77,  visited Milford-on-Sea Youth Football club in Hants, which was awarded one of our Footie for All grants.

He said: “I saw The Sun’s Footie for All campaign in action and it has done so much good.

“It has provided much-needed funding to grassroots kids football during a tough time. 

“Making sure all kids get the chance to play is massively important and has so many benefits.”

Meanwhile, singer Olly Murs, who played semi-professional football before becoming a singer, also hailed our campaign.

Olly, 40, visited Crown & Manor football club in Hackney.

He said: “In 2024 the cost of living is so high for so many families.

“For the kids to suffer and not be able to come and play football because their parents cannot afford it would be such a tragedy.

“So the fact The Sun and Tesco did this will help families to get their children playing football. 

“That’s the good thing about this campaign. The grants are there to ensure no kid gets left behind.”

The Making a Difference Award, organised by News Media Association, highlights how journalism benefits society.

One grant recipient Mike Smith, 54, who runs Curzon Ashton FC in Ashton-Under-Lyne promises income is no barrier to playing with the club. They also take children with disabilities. 

Mike used the club’s Footie for All grant to start a new girls team. He said: “Thanks to the funding from The Sun and Tesco we’re able to give girls the opportunity to play and learn new skills.”

To vote for our Footie for All campaign visit here and click on option two: Vote for your favourite national media campaign. You can then select The Sun’s Footie for All campaign.

Voting close 5pm on Wednesday 30th October.

The 77-year-old former Premier League manager visited Milford-on-Sea Youth Football Club in HantsChris Balcombe - Commissioned by The Sun

Paul Edwards

Olly enjoyed a kickabout with young players from Crown and Manor football club in Hackney earlier this year[/caption]