A new football kit for the Stoneham Panthers

A junior football team from Stoneham has a kit of its own for the first time thanks to sponsorship support from our fostering agency.

The under 11 Stoneham Panthers – a team made up of 14 youngsters currently playing in the Southampton Youth Development League – each have their own number for the first time after we provided a new match day kit for all players, and training kits for four new starters following the team’s expansion last summer.

The team is performing well this season having already won three out of five matches and scoring 25 goals. Discussing the team’s progress, manager of the Panthers, Dale Milbourne, said: “The team is really starting to gel now and have become friends as well as teammates.

“We’re chuffed to bits with the new kit and it’s given them a real sense of identity at the club. It’s the first time they have had a brand new kit of their own, instead of one handed down from another team. It’s given them confidence and it’s shining through in their performance.’’

Jem Orman, our fostering services manager for Hampshire, said: “We’re so pleased to be able to play our part in supporting the Stoneham Panthers and congratulate them on their success so far this season.

“From our years of experience working with children and young people we know just how much sport can benefit young lives and being able to offer this gesture to the Stoneham Panthers and hearing how it’s fuelled their confidence is a real pleasure and privilege.”

We are currently looking to recruit carers to take on both long and short-term placements across the region, for children in need of urgent or respite care.

For information on how you can help, please call 0345 266 0272 or email [email protected].