Karen Carney hails non-league roots in support of National Lottery Football Weekends Campaign

Former Arsenal and England star Karen Carney MBE knows how it feels to lose her local football club, having seen non-league side Moor Green FC merge with Solihull Borough in 2007. During a remarkable 18-year career, the midfielder won 144 caps for the national team and excelled at Birmingham City, Chicago Red Stars and Chelsea before becoming a regular broadcaster for Sky Sports and Amazon Prime. Ad/> But through it all, she has always held a special place in her heart for the club she started at and believes that the loss of The Moors harmed the local community.

/> Football'One of the best matches of the season' — Allegri defends Juventus after UCL exit44 MINUTES AGO And that's why Carney has teamed up with The National Lottery Football Weekends Campaign to celebrate local Football Clubs and Communities across the four home nations and promote the fact that over 100,000 tickets are being made available on a 'Buy One Get One Free' basis for selected local football club matches across the four home nations in March and April. Having reflected on the campaign, Carney admitted that she misses going to see her local team with her family. «I really miss going there.

It is how I got my bond with my dad and how I started playing football,» said Carney, who met inspirational coach Chloe McBratney at Barry Town United FC on Tuesday as part of The National Lottery Football Weekends campaign. Chloe, who is registered blind, lives with multiple health conditions and coaches the club’s thriving Pan Disability side. «They had the best pitch going in Birmingham, or at least it felt like it.

»It was half a mile down the road — it left a hole in my community in Birmingham. «I understand what local teams do. »That's why support like