Coast Kit lands in Kenya
The clubs surplus kit which was given to the RAF Kit to Africa appeal has recently arrived in Kenya along with all the NUFC shirts that were collected from the Bobby Robson Foundation.
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Coast Kit bound for Africa and beyond
The RAF Shawbury based Taking Football to Africa and Beyond Appeal has collected thousands of items from the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation. Football shirts, scarves and flags left in tribute to Sir Bobby Robson after his death in July will now go on to spread a love of the game among disadvantaged people across the world.
Approximately 6,000 items of football memorabilia were left by fans at Sir Bobby's former clubs - Newcastle United, Ipswich Town, West Bromwich Albion and Fulham - in an incredible outpouring of affection and respect for the former England manager. The Taking Football to Africa and Beyond Appeal was started by Squadron Leader Neil Hope, the Community Relations Officer at RAF Shawbury, in early 2006 to collect unwanted football shirts from across the RAF and UK and re-distribute them to countries in Africa. The appeal continued to grow and gained donations from professional football clubs, schools, junior clubs and people across the UK.
The collection from the Robson family comes at a busy time for the appeal. Shirts and uniforms have recently be sent to 2 orphanages in Romania, through Children Internationale, a charity run by Len Jones and the Ellesmere Port and Neston Romanian Appeal. That delivery will be split between Macdonski and Filase orphanages. A delivery of 12 boxes has also departed to orphanages in Kabul, Afghanistan. The appeal also continues to receive other donations from across the UK including school uniform from Hereford Cathedral School and a full set of 9 strips from Whitley Coast Soccer JFC in Whitley Bay. The appeal has also set up a link with the Birmingham based Shirts Amnesty, which will be delivering shirts to South African orphanages and schools in the run up to the world cup next June.
To date it has sent nearly 20,000 items, including nearly 9,000 football shirts, to 24 countries worldwide. The shirts, school uniforms and other items sent are designed to help less well off people across the globe. Football leads the appeal due to its natural ability to bring people together. The items donated will eventually be sent to many countries worldwide. Deliveries are already organised to Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa to be distributed through schools and orphanages. Over the three years the appeal has been running, Neil has set up a multitude of links between clubs and schools in the UK and schools and orphanages across the world, bringing them all together through football.
