News

TJ Group has given more than 30 youngsters a taste of top-flight professional football with the help of two soccer stars.

 The independent firm, which provides haulage and workplace recycling services to 3,000 businesses along the M27 and A3 corridors, laid on a special treat for lads aged six to eight at Denmead FC near Waterlooville.

 They found themselves playing in matches at the club’s training fields with 18-year-old Portsmouth FC player Ashley Harris, who has already made his first team debut, and club legend Linvoy Primus, who has an ambassadorial role since retirement.

 Ashley, a local schoolboy, graduated through the club’s youth academy, which was then specifically sponsored by TJ.

 Terry Higgins, the managing director of TJ, who lives locally and is a “long-suffering” Pompey FC fan, said: “Ashley and Linvoy showed the teams their skills and gave the youngsters lots of encouragement – hopefully it will inspire a new generation of Premiership players.

 “It was a highly memorable day for everyone, including the mums and dads, because it is not everyday you get Premiership players, one of whom is a local schoolboy, dropping in for a knock-about.”