Chester FC are supporting a toddler with special needs who hopes to represent Great Britain at the World Gymnaestrada 2015 in Finland.

Sam Rozzell-Howens, who has Down's Syndrome, has been a member of Spartac Gymnastics Club since he was just a few months old.

Three-year-old Sam has the chance to be part of a display team representing Great Britain next July in Helsinki at an international festival attracting 25,000 performers.

Sam and his family need to raise £2,000 to cover his travel and uniform costs and the football club were delighted to help when Sam's dad Marc Howens approached them.

Assistant manager Jon McCarthy, who also heads up the Chester FC Community Trust, invited Sam down to training to meet manager Steve Burr and the squad prior to the FA Cup second round game at Barnsley earlier this month.

The club donated a signed football and other items for a fundraising auction too and McCarthy thinks Sam's presence gave the team a big lift and contributed to a fantastic performance a couple of days later at Oakwell.

Chester FC manager Steve Burr with Mark Howens and Sam Rozzell-Howens
Chester FC manager Steve Burr with Mark Howens and Sam Rozzell-Howens

McCarthy said: "Our core vehicle is football and we're putting on soccer schools and coaching, but we recognise our role in the wider community too.

"If we can help with raising awareness and generating some publicity for causes then we will and it was brilliant to be able to help Sam.

"We were preparing for a really big game and when Sam wondered in it was exactly what we needed and it ended up being an important part of our preparation.

"He played a bit of table tennis with the lads and he helped take our minds off the game, which was exactly what the lads needed.

"We want to make people aware of the club and have a positive impact on the community, and we are all going to be keeping a close eye on Sam's progress and we look forward to welcoming him to a game in the future."

Anyone who would like to support Sam can contact his mum Dawn Rozzell through dawnrozzell916@btinternet.com.

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