Derby County help in raising awareness of knife crime

Derby County Football Club are helping to raise awareness of the consequences and dangers of knife crime.

Players from the Men’s and Women’s first-team squads have taken part in a feature for the club’s media platforms where they discuss various issues related to knife crime and share their views on how we can work together to solve it.

Men’s midfielders Max Bird and Joe Ward, as well as Women’s goalkeeper Anna Draper and midfielder Becky McGrother, sat down for an honest and open conversation about the issue, which will be shown online and at the stadium before the Men’s League One fixture at Pride Park Stadium against Bristol Rovers on Saturday 25th November (3pm kick-off).

Fans will also see the Men’s players wearing specially designed t-shirts during the pre-match warm-up, as well as ‘Knives Shatters Lives’ imagery outside the stadium and around the pitch.

Superintendent Sarah McAughtrie, Derbyshire Constabulary’s Knife Crime and Serious Violence Lead said: “Sport has a huge impact on fans of all ages, and especially young people look up to those in the teams and see what they’re achieving each time they go and watch.

“It is great once again to have club on board and supporting the work we are doing to raise awareness around knife crime. It is really important to work together in order to get important messages across, and we are grateful to the club for opening up to a discussion on this.

“In Derbyshire, we know it is only the minority of people who think it is acceptable to carry a knife. However, we will not become complacent and by working together and helping to share these messages, we are dedicated to keeping knife crime out of the county.”