Clubs hold minutes silence in memory of girl killed by car driving on sports pitch

Grassroots football clubs and youth teams are to hold a minutes silence this weekend in memory of a 10-year-old girl who was fatally struck by a car on a sports pitch.

Poppy Atkinson was attending a football training session at Kendal Rugby Club in Cumbria on Wednesday evening when she died in the incident.

A 40-year-old man from Lancaster, who was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, has been released, but Cumbria police say investigations are continuing.

Dozens of clubs from across the country have paid tribute to Poppy and pledged to remember her ahead of their games, as part of a social media campaign started by South Shields-based Team Grassroots.

A number of county associations, including Essex County Girls Football League, Sussex County FA and Notts County FA, are also backing the campaign and are encouraging their members to observe a minutes silence.

Poppys family say she wanted to be a professional footballer, and messages of condolence have been sent from some of the Lionnesses, including Barrows Georgia Stanway, and Manchester United football club.

At the time, police said there was "no indication to suggest that this incident was a deliberate act".

An eight-year-old girl, also from Kendal, was taken to hospital for treatment following the incident, but her injuries were not life-threatening.

James Pattison, CEO of Westmorland County FA, said: "We fully support the minutes silence for Poppy Atkinson this weekend, and have asked it is held before all of our County Cup semi-finals happening over the weekend."

"As a County FA, we have been working closely with all of our member clubs to provide support and advice where necessary, and will continue to do so, following the tragic events of Wednesday evening."

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