Young Hartlepool footballers loving life in their new strips

And it’s thanks to Specsavers and the Hartlepool Mail that the young footballers from Seaton United will be bidding for glory in new colours.

We teamed up with the Middleton Grange branch of Specsavers to help a side win a new kit in the colours of their choice.

And Seaton United, made up of 30 children aged from four to 10, emerged as the winners.

The kit was unveiled for the first time at the weekend and is being worn by three Seaton United teams – the Lions, Pumas and Tigers.

Ashleigh Durham, whose two boys Reece, eight, and Kai, four, both play for the side, said: “Everyone loves the strip. Everyone is talking about it. We look the part and we are hoping to do well in the new colours.”

The sides will be bidding for victory whenthey step out onto the pitch at Houghton Kepier School, Houghton-le-Spring, this Saturday. Ashleigh added: “The teams have been doing well and we want to say a big thank you to Specsavers for the new strips.

“We have just put together a new under-10s Panther team for which Seaton United are going to supply match day strips – the same as the ones we have won. The teams are doing really well and even if we lose, the key focus is that the children have had fun and it’s all a part of the experience.”

Seaton United play in the Russell Foster League and have gone from having around eight players in the early days to more than 30.

Ashleigh submitted the application to our competition and said: “Our players are playing matches in their own football kits with no two children matching. We use yellow bibs so that the opposition know who is in our team.”

Club chairman Kevin Moat and treasurer Wayne D’Arcy work tirelessly to bring success to the side.

Ian Walker, store director at Specsavers in the Middleton Grange Shopping Centre, said: “We are delighted to be backing Seaton United. We are so proud to be associated with these teams and we hope they enjoy great success in their new strip.”