Hexham kit travels to Gambia

Posted by Hexham FC on Jun 29, 09 08:59 PM in Clubs/Societies

With the summer transfer merry ground hitting the heights it's not surprising that the majority of people assume that football is awash with ready cash.

Nothing could be further from the truth and at grassroots level this is very evident, where clubs like Hexham FC are reliant on player subs and generous local sponsors.

Hexham FC kit in Gambia

Imagine what it must be like trying to raise funds for playing kit in the West African country of Gambia.

This republic is the smallest country in the continent of Africa and is bordered to the North, East and South by Senegal and to the West by almost fifty miles of Atlantic coastline.

The country itself almost mirrors the meandering Gambia River and at its widest point is only thirty miles across.

Almost a third of its population earns below the international poverty line which is 1.25 US$, so the big money of the Premiership must seem like a completely different world to them.

But Hexham Football Club has been able to assist them in a small way. After a Hexham lady, Theresa Brolly had a conversation with a couple of our coaches, she enquired what happens to our old strips when children have grown out of them and moved up.

Hexham FC kit in Gambia Her nephew Phil and his wife Jeanette have a small holiday property in a small village in Gambia called Serra Kunda.

In the past they had taken out unwanted toys, books and games for some of the local people who needed some help, this was a great way of building good relations in the country and they thought the locals could do with some new kit when they play at the neighbouring town of Wellingra .

The coaches Terry Graham and Les Gibson mentioned this at a Club meeting and it was agreed we would look to see if we had any old kit which was just collecting dust and could be put to good use.

They soon collected some of our green and white kit and Theresa packaged it and sent it off with her family on their next trip over there.

This week Theresa gave us some photographs to show how much the children and students of the village have appreciated the playing kit and how they are being put our old strips to good use. From the photos you can see the pitches are a little dry and sandy but as the climate is tropical at least they got a game before the rain came

Not all the strips went to the village children; some was passed on to the "schools for gambia" charity. This charity collects all unwanted sports kit and other donations which it distributes it to the needy of the country .You can find out more about this charity by logging onto

Hexham FC www.schoolsforgambia.com

We hope soon to be able to collect some more to send out to Theresa's family and if anybody has playing kit of any kind which they longer need please let the Club have it and we will pass it on.

It does not have to be a full set of strips even one will benefit someone. So when you are buying next season's colours just think of the help you could give a young person in Africa with your old one. Any contribution can be donated to any club official

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