A Poppleton woman is to carry the Olympic torch between Harrogate and York after her commitment to a junior football club was recognised, writes Grace Newton.

Carol Newman, 47, was nominated by colleagues at the McDonald’s regional office in Leeds who were impressed by her dedication to raising money for Poppleton JFC.

The HR officer has been in charge of fundraising at the club since her son Tom, 16, began playing for its teams six years ago.

Since then, she has overseen the purchase of its Millfield Lane pitches and the building of the village’s Community Sports Pavilion to provide the youngsters with better facilities.

Now Carol, of Calder Avenue, will run a 300-metre route alongside other local sporting heroes on June 19 – and she is one of only 8,000 people in the country to have been granted the honour of bearing the famous emblem on its journey to London.

“I’m over the moon to have been chosen and very shocked, and I’ve started training so I can run at my best. I also get to keep the torch and I hope it will make a great memento for the club to display,” said Carol.

The football-loving mum has already experienced Olympic fever when she travelled to the Athens Games in 2004 as part of a McDonald’s crew working in a restaurant at the Greek site. This year she is hoping to go to the Paralympics with the fast-food chain, which is one of the event’s main sponsors.

“It’s great exposure for Poppleton JFC and I’m hoping the club may even be able to raise some money from it when it displays the torch next season. I have stepped down from my role with the club now as my son has finished playing for it – but I still have close ties,” she said.