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KitAid Amnesty Day - Saturday 15th March

FC United back KitAid Amnesty Day on Saturday 15th March 2008.

General Manager Andy Walsh says "Give us the shirts off your backs".

Football supporters in the North West are being asked by Football Club 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 FC United said "We are 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 socks) to the appeal".

"In 2006, our supporters donated over 300 shirts to KitAid, and we want 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 FC United v Newcastle Blue Star league game on Saturday 15th March 2008.

Or failing that, kits can be handed in, during the week before the Newcastle game, at FC United’s office, Hope Mill, 113 Pollard Street, Ancoats, Manchester, M4 7JA.

"We can guarantee that all kit donations will be received with big smiles on the faces of children and adults across the world" said Derrick Williams M.B.E., KitAid organiser.

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, a passionate football fan and Three Valleys Water plc 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 Liverpool 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 Three Valleys Water plc and this was sent to one of the villages that Derrick had visited. From that point KitAid has snowballed and during 2007 alone, KitAid delivered 17,500 shirts to 30 different countries.

If you would like to find our more about the work of KitAid log on to www.3valleys.co.uk/kitaid or contact Derrick Williams at the following email address: kitaid@3valleys.co.uk

For further information about KitAid generally contact Sally Howe or Paula Campbell at Three Valleys Water plc on: Telephone: 01707 277110, Fax: 01707 277213, Website: www.3valleys.co.uk

For further information about the FC United KitAid Amnesty Day on Saturday 15th March 2008 in particular, contact FC United on 0161 273 8950 or at office@fc-utd.uk



First Posted ~ 11:43 Mon 25 Feb 2008
News ID ~ 1480
Last Updated ~ 01:52 Tue 16 Feb 2021