FOOTBALL: Kit for Zomba appeal

The Coleraine Delivery Office manager is on a mission to collect old or unused football kit to send to the Zomba Action Project (ZAP) in Malawi, following up on an initiative taken by Coleraine Borough Council linking them with Zomba Municipality in 2002.

ZAP raises and manages funds for approved projects to help disadvantaged people in Zomba to build a better life for themselves and their families. One of the projects undertaken jointly by both authorities was the building of a community centre with particular emphasis on the development of a football ground.

Andy has the backing of Coleraine Borough Council and the Irish Football Association with this project and as Chairman of the North West, Coleraine and District Youth Football League is well positioned to help advance the development of youth football in Zomba. Through his association with Coleraine Football Club and of course, Royal Mail he is using his influence to collect old and unused football kit to encourage the formation of amateur league football based around schools and sports clubs.

So if you have an old football shirt and shorts you've out-grown, some old boots that don't fit anymore or indeed a full strip or club kit no longer in use, Andy would love to take it from you and put it to good use in Zomba. Anything donated needs to be in good condition and boots should preferably still have their laces. In addition, footballs and goal nets are more than welcome, in fact, if it is football-related, he'll take it.

Andy said: "Support for this project has already been tremendous and I am sure there are thousands of unused football shirts and boots lying around in homes all across Northern Ireland.

"The young people in Zomba are really passionate about football, they have very little to look forward to in their young lives and having a pair of boots or a shirt would be like gold dust to them."

Deputy Mayor of Coleraine, and Chairman of the Zomba Action Project Committee, Cllr William King added: "We are grateful to Andy, Royal Mail and the Irish Football Association for recognising our worthwhile cause.

He said: "I would encourage people and local teams to pass on their out of season shirts or full kits so that people who are less fortunate can enjoy the benefits of them."

The Irish Football Association is supporting this appeal which strengthens their association with Royal Mail who support them through sponsorship of the Fair Play Awards.

Geoff Wilson, marketing manager with the Irish Football Association said: "The IFA fully support this project and would encourage anyone with old football kit they no longer use to take it along to one of the Royal Mail drop-off points or bring it along our IFA Headquarters on Windsor Avenue where there will be a collection point and we will arrange for it to be forwarded to Andy."

Donating could not be easier – just put what you are donating in a bag and take it along to one of the following drop-off points where it will be forwarded on to Andy free of charge:Any Royal Mail Delivery/Enquiry OfficeIFA Headquarters, Windsor Avenue, Belfast

It is hoped to ship a container load of kit out to Zomba early in the summer. In order to get everything sorted and packed to meet this timescale the appeal will run until May 28.