Digoutyour oldbootsfor footballers inMalawi

A challenge has gone out to teams and their supporters in the Forth and Endrick Football League.

The Scottish Football Supporters Association (SFSA) is working with an infectious diseases research programme run by Glasgow University to gather as many pairs of football boots to be sent to villages in northern Malawi.

Football is being used as a community communications tool to help develop important medical research, but sadly most of the boys, girls and adults don’t have boots to wear.

Now the SFSA is asking players and supporters to donate old boots – which should be in good condition to the programme.

And the team which collects the most will win a free coaching session with former Scotland international Jimmy Bone, an SFSA ambassador.

Forth and Endrick League secretary Fraser Scott said: “We thought this was a great idea to recycle what is a very expensive piece of football kit and give it new life in Malawi. We are excited to see how the programme develops and for our communities to help those who have the same passion for football as we all do.”

And Kippen-based Paul Goodwin, co-founder of SFSA, added: “We were delighted when the Forth and Endrick League stepped forward to help us with this programme and if it is successful it could end up being replicated across Scotland.

“We know how competitive the Forth and Endrick League is so, with the help of our ambassador Jimmy Bone, we have offered the village team that gathers the highest number of boots by April 15 a coaching session with Jimmy.”

Anyone who can help should contact Paul Goodwin on 07702 252519 on paulgoodwin@scottishfsa. org