Professional football clubs across England are to help reduce the numbers of young people injured or killed after trespassing on the railway by organising a series of sports and educational activities to divert kids away from the dangers of playing on the tracks.
The new partnership between Network Rail and the Football League Trust (FLT) will see ten clubs, including Brentford, work with Network Rail's community safety managers to boost awareness of railway safety.
The initiative is a development of Network Rail's Real Life programme, which has successfuly worked with schools and community groups to get safety messages in fun and engaging ways.
Tragically, 164 people lost their lives after going on to the tracks in the last five years.
Of these, 70 per cent were struck by trains with 18 per cent suffering electrocution by coming in to contact with the power supply, which can be as much as 25,000 volts.
The peak ages for trespass fatalities are late teens and early 20s, with around one in five deaths in this age group.
In the past year, records show as many as 8,500 incidents of trespass with at least 1,080 of those involving children or teenagers.
More than 100 incidents of people playing 'chicken' were recorded and dozens of objects were seemingly deliberately left on the tracks, with 26 incidents of trains striking bicycles.
Many of these incidents caused serious damage to trains and infrastructure and disruption to those travelling by train.
While young people were not responsible for all these incidents, Network Rail focuses its education activities on school age children to promote good behaviour.
The FLT and Network Rail will also run five-a-side boys and girls football competition with teams from each club in a national final.
Mike Evans, General Manager at the Football League Trust, said: "Football League clubs are at the heart of their communities and therefore have the incredible ability to reach people.
"Our partnership with Network Rail shows how football can use this ability to talk to young people about a serious issue and make a positive difference to people's lives."
Gareth Llewellyn, director of safety and sustainability at Network Rail, said: "Every day around 24,500 trains run across the network and it is getting busier with modern, quieter trains travelling up to 125mph.
"We know of too many incidents where seemingly harmless pranks or games along the tracks have resulted in painful injury or even death.
"The Football League Trust and the clubs involved can help us raise awareness of the dangers and engage kids in something much more positive.
"The results will be a safer community and better running railway for all."
Graham Goodden, Inclusion co-ordinator at Brentford FC CST, said: "The Network Rail sessions allow our coaches to provide potentially life-saving advice about being safe on the railway.
"Many of our participants look up to our coaches and volunteers as role models and hopefully they will be able to get the key messages across to these young people that the railways are not safe and need to be respected."
Brentford FC CST will be providing additional FREE sports and youth clubs to complement the existing 21 sessions across Ealing, Hounslow and Richmond.
Brent Lea and Syon (Osterley Goals - Friday 5pm to 6.30pm)
Isleworth (Worth Road Community Centre - starting October 2)
Barnes and Mortlake (Powerstation Youth Club - starting December 11)
Feltham (Southville Community Centre - TBC)
Sunbury (TBC)
Each programme covers important messages including understanding the railway, electrification, level crossings and crime on the railway
Email [email protected] for more information.