Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Stars mean the world to Emily and Alex
FOOTBALLERS and negative headlines often go hand-in-hand just ask some of the Premier League's elite.[LNB] No strangers to controversy and scandal, some of the country's leading names have been guilty of setting the worst possible examples as role models.[LNB] But for every bad tale, there are also ones which warm the heart.[LNB] Despite being in the thick of a promotion quest, Cherries' players have found time to demonstrate how sporting stars can be a force for good.[LNB] And to one family enduring hardship, the club's kind gestures have made all the difference.[LNB] A lifelong Cherries supporter since her upbringing in Shaftesbury, mum-of-two Louisa contacted the Daily Echo to issue a heartfelt thank you to the club for helping her young family through a trying period.[LNB] Her two Cherries-mad children eight-year-old Alex and Emily, five have found life difficult without their father, who has served around the world and is currently on his second tour of Afghanistan with the Royal Logistic Corps.[LNB] Having only seen their dad for nine weeks during the past year, Louisa explained how their spirits have been lifted by the generosity of Cherries' players and staff, particularly Marvin Bartley.[LNB] Alex first got in touch with Bartley via an internet social networking website around two years ago and the Cherries midfielder has kept in regular contact with the youngster.[LNB] Bartley said: It's a special situation. His dad is away in Afghanistan and he is fighting for the country.[LNB] Anything I can do to help put the young lad at ease, when I've been asked, I have tried to do that.[LNB] He told me he's been getting 10 out of 10 for his spellings and he is trying to be brave while his dad is away. I said if he kept it up, I would give him my home shirt at the end of the season.[LNB] Cherries media manager Mick Cunningham arranged for Alex to meet the team in October, while Emily was introduced to her favourite player Steve Fletcher prior to Christmas.[LNB] Grateful Louisa said: It has meant an awful lot. My children don't get to see their dad very often and a lot of people don't understand what it's like for children whose dad is away.[LNB] My boy loves his dad to bits and is terrified that he will be killed in action, which can at times cause him to have sleepless nights and terrible nightmares.[LNB] Because of the promise of the shirt and the praise he has received, Alex has settled and is doing incredibly well at school all because he knows Marvin will keep his side of the bargain.[LNB] They love to go to the football with their grandad on a Saturday.[LNB] They are there cheering on their idols but for them to know these guys have thought about them has really helped.[LNB] I just thought after everything they (Cherries) are going through and what's happening on the pitch and the politics of football, it would be nice for people to see they give it their all off the pitch as well as on it.[LNB] I know that to the majority of people, and to the guys involved, it will seem like they haven't done much, but for us it means the world.[LNB] And Alex had a special message of thanks for his footballing heroes.[LNB] He said: Football has given me and my little sister something to look forward to when our daddy is away.[LNB] We love our club and they have made us feel like someone other than our family has remembered that it's very hard for soldiers' children too, not just the people who are in Afghanistan.[LNB] We love going to football with grandad it makes us so happy. Thank you to Marvin and all the lads you helped us to be brave and not cry so much. You are all superstars.[LNB] ¢ Cherries have two Football League ambassadors for soldiers' charity Help for Heroes Lee Bradbury and Joe Roach. Bradbury served as an 18-year-old in Northern Ireland before pursuing a career in football and Roach spent more than 20 years in the Armed Forces after signing up in 1975.[LNB]
