FC United To Hold Kit Collection

Football supporters in the North West are being asked by F.C. United of Manchester to back the latest ‘KitAid’ appeal to support children and adults who love football in some of the poorest parts of the world.

The charity which has Graham Taylor O.B.E. as its Patron recycles no longer wanted football kit and sends it to less privileged children and adults across Africa, India and other developing countries.

Andy Walsh, General Manager at F.C. United said: “ We’re delighted to be supporting ‘KitAid’ once again and are appealing to our supporters to clear out their cupboards and donate any clean unwanted football kit (shirts, shorts and footballs) to the appeal. ”

“In 2006, our supporters handed in over 300 shirts and a further 420 items were donated to ‘KitAid’ at a second collection day in 2008.

“In recognition of this, F.C. United have become an Ambassador Club for ‘KitAid’ and we’d like to do even better this time around. ”

“Kits can be dropped off at the collection points that will be set up outside the Gigg Lane turnstiles ahead of the F.C. United v Marine league game at Bower Fold, Stalybridge on Saturday 8th October 2011. ”

‘KitAid’ is a registered charity, created in 1998, which donates unwanted football shirts to children and adults across Africa, India, Eastern Europe and other developing countries.

It was set up by Derrick Williams M.B.E., a passionate football fan and water company employee, after he visited Tanzania as a volunteer with ‘WaterAid’ (the water and sanitation development charity that helps people in Africa and Asia, to bring safe, clean water supplies to their villages).

During the trip it became evident how much the children (and adults) in Tanzania shared Derrick’s love for football and especially anything to do with the “western” game. It was even more evident how little opportunity and equipment they had to develop this passion. Children often played barefooted with a football made out of tied plastic bags. A picture taken of a boy wearing a ragged football shirt was the spark that created ‘KitAid’, as everyone who saw it wanted to help.

Initially one box of kit was collected from friends and colleagues within Hertfordshire-based water company that Derrick worked at (now known as Veolia Water) and this was sent to one of the villages in Tanzania that he had visited. From that point ‘KitAid’ has snowballed and since inception, ‘KitAid’ has now delivered over 150,000 shirts to 50 different countries.

If you would like to find our more about the work of ‘KitAid’ log on to https://central.veoliawater.co.uk/kit-aid.aspx or contact Derrick Williams at the following email address: kitaid@veoliawater.co.uk