Clubs mark anniversary of footballer Poppy's death
· Yahoo Sports
Football clubs are marking the first anniversary of the death of a 10-year-old girl who was hit by a car during a training session.
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Poppy Atkinson was fatally struck by a vehicle at Kendal Rugby Club in Cumbria on 5 March 2025.
Her coach Corey Smith said: "This is a very sad day for everybody in football - her loss affected not just her family and friends but many kids and many other parents."
Cumbria Police said an investigation was ongoing and a 40-year-old, arrested in March 2025, remained released under investigation.
Poppy played for Kendal United's U12 girls team and Morecambe Girls.
Hundreds of people lined the streets of Kendal on the day of Poppy Atkinson's funeral [BBC]"Many clubs will hold a minute's applause today or over the weekend," Smith, a coach at Kendal United, said.
"But at our club, I'm going to be holding a minute's silence and asking the players to remember Poppy and know we've lost someone so special."
Poppy's family said she wanted to be a professional footballer and following her death, messages of condolence were sent from some of the Lionesses, including Barrow's Georgia Stanway.
Mourners were asked to wear red to her funeral in a tribute to her passion for the game and for Manchester United.
At the time of her death, police said there was "no indication to suggest that this incident was a deliberate act".
Clubs are to hold a minute's silence or applause in memory of Poppy Atkinson [BBC]Smith said Poppy was a player in love with the game, who "would have gone all the way".
"She was so vibrant, so energetic, the way she moved on the football was very rare."
He continues to coach Poppy's brother and is reminded constantly of her.
"There's not a single session I do when I don't see her there," he said.
"Even speaking about her, I get emotional."
He described the tributes paid to her as "amazing" and said he hoped clubs would continue to mark her death each year.
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