Swifts shirts making a difference in Africa

The three footballers pictured above are not, despite what it may look like at first glance, about to play at Scraley Road- although if you'd looked closely the weather might quickly have put paid to that notion! Lawrence, Godfred and Ebenezer are from the U17 Squad of the Gomoa Soccer For Change Project. They're based in Agona Swedru, 20 miles west of the capital of Ghana, Accra, and they are wearing Heybridge Swifts shirts which have been gifted to them by the club courtesy of charity Boots2Africa.

We've written about the work of Boots2Africa previously, but in case you missed it, they are an organisation which sends used sports kit- not just boots- to needy communities across the African continent. The kits worn by the three players above came from a shipment sent in August and provided by Swifts, Ely City Crusaders and White Ensign.

The charity explains:

This shot in particular shows how grateful our beneficiaries are to receive our support, so they can play better, safer football in good quality preloved boots and kits. Secondly, with the lads wearing the same club shirt emblazoned with 3 different former sponsors, this highlights to all just how much excess kit is out there in grassroots, non league and at professional clubs.

And this was just one of 21 shipments in the last stop/start calendar year, with support from 48 clubs, schools, community groups and 23 members of the public who generously mailed their donations.

To use a true sporting analogy all we can ask is that we 'Go again' next year with the same enthusiasm and determination to support the safe and sustainable growth of the game in Africa, by organising your own boot and kit donation events. There are millions more children and young adult players out there like Lawrence, Godfred and Ebenezar that need our support; to help their communities, Clubs and Academies give structure and enhance their lives and those around them through sports. They have talent, passion, desire and hope; we have the means to volunteer our time and donate what we can.

If your club can help, please head to boots2africa.co.uk to find out more.