YOUNG footballers are showing the red card to bullying by taking part in an awareness campaign.

Youngsters from under-7s to under-18s with the North Riding County Football Association are being urged to wear wristbands to show they are standing up against bullying.

The initiative was thought up by housing association Broadacres, for Anti-Bullying Week, which runs until Friday, November 21.

The organisation has worked with the North Riding County Football Association to produce 1,200 wristbands and awareness leaflets to circulate to all the teams in its area, which are part of the Teesside Junior Football Alliance.

Teams taking part are; Richmond Town, Thirsk Falcons, Brompton Juniors, Northallerton Juniors, Stokesley Juniors and Great Ayton Juniors.

The idea came from Broadacres’ asset manager Peter Ross, who is also a youth football team coach at Billingham Juniors.

He said: “My son recently went from primary school to secondary school and by speaking to him and his friends it became apparent that this was a momentous change for some children.

“The need to fit in and not be excluded from things can put immense pressure on children and for some this can lead to them being bullied or even becoming the bully.

“Bullying isn’t necessarily just about physical or verbal abuse, it can be about exclusion and with the growth of social media it is now just as likely to be done online, which can be more upsetting as it potentially includes a wider social circle.

“Through the use of the wristbands we are hoping to raise awareness of bullying among young people during Anti-Bullying Week and beyond. The aim is to get children to speak to their parents, teachers, coaches and club welfare officers if they are experiencing bullying.”