Charity thanks league for record haul

Footballing charity Kit Aid is thanking the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League's fans and clubs for helping them celebrate another year of success and urging supporters to redouble their efforts for less fortunate young footballers around the world in 2013.

The charity’s list of achievements in 2012 include collecting and delivering 26,775 items of kit, sponsoring projects in Lesotho, Kenya and Zambia and hosting the Kit Aid Conference attended by delegates and charity partners from around the UK.

Former England manager Graham Taylor OBE is now the patron of the charity which since its foundation in 1998 has sent more than 200,000 donated shirts to under-privileged young footballers in more than 30 countries.

Kit Aid say they’re celebrating attracting record levels of coverage in the regional, national and international media during a year that also saw the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League and Hertfordshire FA join their growing list of charity partners.

In his annual Christmas message to the charity's supporters, Kit Aid founder Derrick Williams MBE singled out the Evo-Stik NPL for praise. He said: "Everybody connected with Kit Aid would like to say a huge thank you for the generosity and efforts of the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League's clubs and fans. We’re so happy to be working with everyone as it makes such a big difference to kids in places like Africa.

"Well done to everybody and please keep up the good work next year. The kit and equipment collected makes such a massive difference to the lives of the youngsters who might never have been able to wear a proper pair of boots or pull on a decent strip."

He added: "Once again this year everybody’s efforts will help change lives. You only have to see the joy in the faces of the children helped to know what a difference clubs and their fans are making by putting old or unused kit to good use again."

KitAid is supported by a number of Evo-Stik NPL clubs including Witton Albion, FC United of Manchester and Marine who've all been honoured as KitAid Ambassador Clubs for their work on behalf of the charity. In November Sutton Coldfield Town became the latest club to sign up to support the charity when they agreed to become a collection and distribution centre.

The charity also receives help from a number of kit manufacturers including PUMA UK, Great Branding, Kitlocker and DPM Sports.

For more information on Kit Aid visit: www.kitaid.net