DERBY County have teamed up with Network Rail to help educate young people about the dangers of trespassing on railway lines.
The partnership will see the Rams choose a player ambassador who will take a role in the project by attend training sessions with youngsters and act as a role model.
The initiative involves 10 clubs, across the country, including neighbours Notts County and Nottingham Forest, as Network Rail bids to reduce the numbers of young people injured or killed after trespassing on the railway.
The partnership between Network Rail and the Football League Trust will see clubs work with Network Rail's community safety managers to boost awareness of railway safety.
Mike Evans, general manager at the trust, said: ''Football League clubs are at the heart of their communities and therefore have the incredible ability to reach people.
"Our partnership with Network Rail shows how football can use this ability to talk to young people about a serious issue and make a positive difference to people's lives."
The project is a development of Network Rail's Rail Life programme which has successfully worked with schools and community groups to get across safety messages in fun and engaging ways. Figures reveal 164 people in the UK lost their lives after going on to the tracks in the past five years.
Of these, 70% were struck by trains, with 18% suffering electrocution by coming into contact with the power supply, which can be as much as 25,000 volts. The peak ages for trespass deaths are late teens and earlier twenties, with around one in five deaths in this age group.
In the past year, there were as many as 8,500 incidents of trespass, with at least 1,080 of these involving children or teenagers. More than 100 incidents of people playing 'chicken' were recorded and dozens of objects were left on the tracks, with 26 incidents of trains striking bicycles.
Many of these incidents caused serious damage to trains and infrastructure and disruption to travellers.
While young people were not responsible for all these incidents, Network Rail focuses its education activities on school-age children to promote good behaviour.
Gareth Llewellyn, director of safety and sustainability at Network Rail, said: ''Every day around 24,500 trains run across the network and it's getting busier with modern, quieter trains travelling up to 125mph. We know of too many incidents where seemingly harmless pranks or games along the tracks have resulted in painful injury or even death.
"The Football League Trust and the clubs involved can help us raise awareness of the dangers and engage kids in something much more positive. The results will be a safer community and better running railway for all.''
As well as Derby County the other clubs taking part in the project are: Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion, Bristol City, Bristol Rovers, Leeds United, Nottingham Forest, Notts County, Portsmouth and Shrewsbury.
