The Coronavirus lockdown film featuring 135 footballers from Leeds community club

‘Pass The Ball Not The Virus’ features 135 boys, girls and adults from Tingley Athletic FC controlling and passing the ball to each other ‘virtually’ as a way of players from the U7s to open age groups staying in touch - continuing the club’s well know community spirit.

The message is clear and is designed to encourage people to stay home and safe during lockdown to help protect the NHS.

Filmed by parents and friends at home, the individual clips were then stitched together by one of the club trustees. The film had already attracted well over 1,500 views on Facebook within the first 48 hours with other clubs now getting in touch to ask if they can do the same.

Based on the Leeds and Wakefield border, the club – also a registered charity – recently donated boxes of stock it could not sell in its tuck shop to staff at the Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) and also a new pop-up food bank at Morley Victoria Primary School, including packs of Lucozade, soup and snacks.

Nick Powell, one of the club’s trustees who helped come up with the video idea, said: “For quite a big club, we are very close and I know all the volunteer coaches are missing their teams as much as the players are missing playing. So we wanted to try and do something to keep us all together, even virtually, and had spotted similar things online. And that’s how the idea was born after input from other club colleagues.

“The club put out a call to parents via our coaches for 5 second videos of each player receiving a pass and then making one from left to right. We couldn’t believe it when we got more than 100 back. In the end we had so many it took one of our other trustees three solid days to edit together. We are so proud of the results, but more importantly it gave our players of all ages something to do that kept them feeling engaged with the Tingley Athletic family especially as our players come from right across the cities of Leeds and Wakefield, which is a big area.”

The club is now looking at doing other films to keep in contact with their players until lockdown is lifted and training can resume.

Find out more about the club and how to join at: tingleyathletic.co.uk*************

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