A TEESDALE charity leader has rubbed shoulders with premier league stars to mark a groundbreaking new partnership.
Forces veteran Tommy Lowther formed Sporting Force in 2015 to help get ex-service personnel back into work and accustomed to civilian life.
Premier league giants Tottenham Hotspur have now climbed aboard the charity’s efforts with the potential for 200 positions at the club to be filled by veterans through Sporting Force.
Mr Lowther, from Butterknowle, joined fellow ex-service personnel at Spurs’ Enfield Training Centre to launch the partnership – meeting England stars Harry Kane and Dele Alli alongside manager Mauricio Pochettino.
He said: “The Spurs thing is massive for us – we’ve been working with them for quite a few months and the relationship has developed over time with the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation.
“They’re playing at Wembley until the new stadium gets built but when that happens they need staff in there – they’ve approached us with 50 jobs and they’ve offered up to 200 if it goes well.”
If it comes to fruition, Mr Lowther believes the scheme would be one of the biggest veteran recruitment drives taken on by any organisation.
“It would mean 25 per cent of the whole workforce would be veterans – it’s just incredible.”
Mr Lowther met the Spurs squad and manager as well as Spurs clubman Ledley King, who has become an ambassador for Sporting Force.
He added: “It was a really good experience – they were having a light training session and you realise there’s no real difference between the craic you have with lads in Sunday league and the professionals.
“Dele Alli was rolling around on the floor wrestling with someone and the manager was running around telling him not to get injured.
“The whole day was really successful and the club have been absolutely fantastic – they’ve brought us in with open arms.”
Sporting Force have ties with Everton, Chelsea and Middlesbrough as well as a raft of other sporting clubs to help get armed forces veterans into employment.
Mr Lowther decided to channel his efforts into the charity after suffering the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) following his time in Northern Ireland, Iraq and a spell in the Metropolitan Police.
From humble roots, he has seen Sporting Force grow and pick up several awards in the process. And the charity team will see if it claims another accolade in April at the Soldiering On Awards.
Mr Lowther added: “It’s like winning a BAFTA for us as there are thousands of nominations. Just to be considered is amazing in itself.”
The charity will be up against two others in the Community Impact to Veterans category on April 20.
