Shrewsbury grassroots football club receives life-saving defibrillator thanks to company's donation
A grassroots football club in Shrewsbury has received a life-saving heart defibrillator from Hartshorne Group.
Shrewsbury Up & Comers FC says the medical device - which can restart a person's heart in an emergency - will help to keep adults and youngsters safe whilst they develop their football skills and build lasting friendships.
The club, which plays home games at Shrewsbury College in London Road, has been enabling children and adults in the local community to engage in the beautiful game for more than 50 years since being founded in 1973.
The defibrillator was presented by Hartshorne Group, which supplies and services Volvo commercial vehicles throughout the Midlands.
It is the 14th device to be donated as part of a Healthy Heart Campaign, launched in conjunction with West Midlands Ambulance Service.
Tom Taylor, Assistant Club Welfare Officer and Manager of the club’s U11s Ospreys team, said: "We are thrilled to announce this kind donation of a defibrillator from Hartshorne Volvo. We are hugely thankful that their Healthy Heart Campaign has had such a huge impact.
"This vital addition to our site will enhance the safety of our teams, spectators, and the wider public by ensuring a rapid response to any emergency on or off the pitch. A sudden cardiac arrest on the field-of-play is a rare but devastating event, with approx. One in 217,000 people per year suffering a sports-related sudden fatality. Early access to the correct equipment in the event of a cardiac episode is crucial."
Phil Brookfield, Operations Director at Hartshorne Group, said: "We're proud to support Shrewsbury Up & Comers in this way. The club's officials, coaches, and dedicated parents all do a fantastic job within the community."
Staff at Hartshorne's depot in Ainsdale Drive, Shrewsbury, raised the funds by recording their physical activity on an app, with the company donating £1 for every hour of healthy exercise.
Shrewsbury Up & Comers is an entirely voluntary organisation, with 191 dedicated volunteers.
It has a prestigious 3 Star FA accreditation, which is awarded to only eight per cent of grassroots clubs.
It provides football for boys and girls from the age of four, as well as open-age teams for both males and females.
The club has 663-registered players, across 46 teams.
