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England players can't afford costs

Max Sandy and Michael Armstrong, two first team players.
ELITE lacrosse players from Greater Manchester could see their sporting dreams dashed - because they can't afford to compete.

England's Under-19 team is due to play in the world championships in Canada this summer, but there is no government funding for the national squad.

It will cost the team - many from clubs in Greater Manchester - £175,000 to take part.

State funding is available for lacrosse as a `development' sport, but none is available for the national squads, who have to pay their own way.

Altrincham and Sale West MP Graham Brady has now tabled a Commons motion calling for urgent financial support.

He acted after David Shuttleworth, chief executive of the Manchester-based England Lacrosse Association, explained the difficulties facing players, their families and clubs.

Mr Brady said: "It seems unfair that when the government is pouring so much money into sport, money can't be found to support teams playing behalf of our country in a sport which is increasingly popular with adults and youngsters alike.

"We risk losing some of our best players because they can no longer afford to compete."

Businessman Marcus Sandy, whose 18-year-old son Max, a first team player with Timperley Lacrosse Club, is among the England squad travelling to British Columbia, said: "We wholeheartedly welcome Mr Brady's call for a better deal.

"As parents, we were delighted at Max being chosen to represent his country, then discovered we havea huge fundraising exercise to get him and his team mates out there.

"We have to get personal sponsorship and I've written to all members of the family asking them to do what they can.

"I've also written to all my business contacts and done a mail drop to local businesses.

"Dedication is such that Michael Armstrong, another first team player at Timperley, put off going to university for a year in the hope of getting a place in the England squad - and he has.

"His mother, Ros, has done sterling work in raising the profile of the sport and the problems that face people like us."

Club chairman Mr Shuttleworth said: "Sadly, we are not an Olympic sport, nor are we considered a priority sport like football or cricket.

"Sports like volleyball and basketball get something like £1m a year, but with lacrosse, it's a bit like the old days - if you got picked to play rugby for England, you brought your own shorts. But if you have worked hard enough to represent your country, there should be funding to enable you to do so.

"It's not just about the world championship. This year, we have a mens' team in action in Finland, and a womens' team in Prague - and they all have to pay their own way. It's an injustice that constantly niggles."

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Typical british the british government are great at sponsoring sports and education in other countries but leave our own kids etc wanting. its time that britain started taking a leaf out of other countries books and start to back our own sports people.If we want these kids to play for our country we should be payi8ng for everything they do.typical britains way of doing everything..volunteers and charities they rely on while at the same time saving money to finance money for other countries.HANG YOUR HEADS IN SHAME BRITAIN.

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It is not an injustice that lacrosse payers have to pay for their own hobby. It is an injustice that the taxpayer has to pay for the hobbies of other people, such as the volleyball players. All sports subsidy should end except for those who can prove that their income is too low to afford basic exercise opportunities.

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What about the lottery fund?

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Tig, they can’t have any Lottery funding because they want to use the funds constructively!

If they said they want to erect a statue of some nonsense or other and call it 'Dynesion Degradation of Elitist Proletarians' I am sure they would get as much money as they desire.

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