Five Bexleyheath kids who were victims of racial abuse while playing football have scooped £1,000 to help a charity which fights racism on the pitch.

Twelve-year-old Ollie Holden from Bexleyheath and four classmates successfully pitched to an audience of more than 100 people, including the Mayor of Bexley, to win much-needed funds for football’s equality and inclusion organisation, Kick It Out.

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The year 7 pupils were competing as part of the First Give programme, which encourages students to take action to tackle social issues.

Ollie, alongside Kasey Abbott, Luca Sansord, Harry Selstead and Andrew Vaughn, beat off competition from eight other groups vying for money for their chosen charity at Hurstmere Secondary School in Sidcup, Kent.

Speaking on his achievement, footie fanatic Ollie said: "We just want football to be a racism-free sport and for it to be friendly and enjoyable. Kick It Out were the perfect charity for us.

"I’m personally a mad football fan. When I’ve played football before I have been called racist names and so have my team mates.

"It’s really upsetting; we play football to enjoy it. It gets competitive but there’s no need for horrible names."

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Ollie and several of his friends have been victims of racist abuse while playing football, and not just from opposition players.

"These children are 11 years old and we’ve also had parents saying racist names to children, which was shocking.

“If the children are 11 years old, it’s coming from somewhere this attitude," said Ollie's mum Lara.

The young activists were marked on their presentation skills and answers to tough questions from the eight-person judging panel, eventually winning by just two points.

"It was amazing. We couldn’t stop smiling; we were over the moon.

"It’s the most money I’ve ever held," said Ollie.

Lara added: “I’m so proud of the boys, they were so nervous beforehand, but they practiced so much and did so much research. It was very slick.

To say thanks, Kick It Out are now planning for our Education Officer, ex-Premier League footballer Osei Sankofa, to visit Hurstmere School to meet the boys and deliver and educational assembly on equality and diversity.