PEGASUS Juniors have been given a helping hand by a city McDonald’s franchisee.

Philip Kempe, who owns restaurants in Belmont and Malvern, has stepped in to support Pegasus Juniors FC as part of the McDonald’s Community Football Programme.

The programme aims to encourage more people to get involved in the game either as players, supporters or coaches, with kit and equipment donations being just one element of the scheme to help raise the standards of grassroots football.

Kempe has provided funding of more than £2,000 towards much needed improvements for the clubhouse and pitch by supporting the club’s end of season tournament.

Pegasus,who will celebrate their 60th anniversary next year, currently boast more than 23 boys and girls teams from under-6s up right up to under-17s, as well as five senior teams.

Each year, the club hosts a six-a-side competition, the Marcus Powell Memorial Tournament, with teams travelling from across the Midlands to take part. Over the two weekends, 174 teams played and 1,400 young players participated in the tournament.

Kempe, who has supported a number of grassroots football clubs in the local area before, said: “Pegasus Juniors is a great football club dedicated to helping young players from the area enjoy the game.

"Supporting the club’s end of season tournament was important to me because the money raised from sponsoring the event is all invested back into the club.

"It was my pleasure to be able to help them out and provide funding to improve both playing facilities and the clubhouse for the future.”

Pegasus director Alan Savory added: “We can’t thank Philip enough for his generous donation towards the new lawnmower and clubhouse facilities. We’re a community focused club and these donations mean we can continue to welcome new players into Pegasus Juniors FC as a place for them to enjoy learning and playing the game.”

Sir Geoff Hurst, McDonald’s Director of Football says, “Initiatives like the McDonald’s Community Football Programme help clubs to provide the right training tools and kit so that they can continue to offer a great standard of grassroots football and coaching to the young people in their community. It is the help of franchisees like Philip Kempe that allows grassroots football clubs like Pegasus Juniors FC to flourish.”