Charlie returns from a Junior Kickers session and observes a minute's silence with his toy footballers
The heartwarming action of a Stevenage youngster has gone global after a photo of him observing a minute's silence with his toy footballers went viral across social media.
Four-year old Charlie Hughes had returned home from a Junior Kickers session at the Stevenage FC Academy when he lined up his toy footballers on their pitch and bowed his head. Dad Wayne took a photo, uploaded it onto Twitter and the reaction since has been huge.
The photo was featured by the BBC, ITV and Daily Mirror amongst other media, with celebrities such as Piers Morgan and former Arsenal striker Ian Wright also retweeting it - two of the 3,000+ retweets Wayne's photo received.
Wayne told us, "Charlie is football mad so when we got home from Junior Kickers he played FIFA15, watched the Liverpool-Chelsea game and then got his Soccerstarz toys out to play. Fortunately I managed to snap him in action - he's still got his football socks on in the photo!"
He continued, "Charlie has been coming to Junior Kickers for about a year now and absolutely loves it. The coaches there are fantastic and really make it enjoyable for him and the other boys to come."
Whilst being fans of another team from North London which plays in red and white, Wayne and Charlie both enjoy trips to The Lamex Stadium. Indeed Charlie was one of a number of Junior Kickers participants to feature in a special presentation at the end of last season. Wayne added, "He went on the pitch with Boro Bear and loved it!"
Junior Kickers is run as a 10 week course to encourage familiarity and confidence amongst youngsters. It seeks to provide both boys and girls aged 3 and 4 with an introduction to football, using fun games and activities to teach the games primary skills. Coaches pay particular focus on developing children’s co-ordination, balance, ball movement and self confidence. Each 45 minute session is taught on a coach to child ratio at the Stevenage Football Academy in a safe and friendly learning environment. For more information you can click here.
Our next Junior Kickers taster session is on Saturday 22nd November from midday to 12.45pm. If you would like to register your son / daughter, please call us on 01438 222222 or alternatively email community@stevenagefc.com.