Caborn To Kick-Off Boots Delivery

Mark Cooke, Chief Executive of Bright Finance, Sports Minister Richard Caborn, Sheffield FC Chairman, Richard Tims, Paul Hancock, Chairman of Bright Finance and Sheffield FC player Andy Brownrigg.

Sports Minister Richard Caborn kicked-off Sheffield FC’s delivery of more than 2,000 pairs of football boots to Africa.

Mr Caborn, MP for Sheffield Central, helped the oldest club in the world to load the first batch of boots to be taken out to the continent as part of their Boots for Africa Campaign.

Sheffield FC launched Boots for Africa in May as part of their 150th anniversary celebrations this year and in partnership with BBC Radio Sheffield's Toby Foster Show and the CSV Action Desk.

Mr Caborn said: “I am delighted to help Sheffield FC on their way to delivering the boots to Africa. This is a marvellous campaign and I have been pleased the oldest club in the world has received such a great response.

"To raise so many boots in such a short space of time is a fantastic achievement. I wish them the best of luck for the rest of the campaign and for their 150th anniversary celebrations this year."

More than 27 schools and colleges, eight local sporting organisations and 28 businesses from across Yorkshire have given their support to the campaign by having bin collection points and donating sacks filled with boots.

Chapeltown-based Bright Finance helped organise and store all the sacks before they were ready to leave for Africa.

The club reached its initial target of 2007 pairs of boots, but will continue the campaign to help make the game even more accessible for thousands of young people.

Sheffield FC chairman Richard Tims added: “Sheffield FC is where club football began. Through this campaign we hope to again sow the seeds for the next generation of players and create a knock-on affect for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

"We have been amazed with the generosity of people from all over the country, but the campaign is still not over and we hope people continue to donate their unwanted boots."

Any teams, clubs or community groups still wanting to donate more than one pair of boots, can receive a special group donation pack to assist them. Local businesses and schools can also apply for the pack, which includes posters, leaflets and collection bags.

For more information about how to donate a pair of boots to Sheffield FC, please contact the BBC Radio Sheffield hotline number on 0114 267 5444, email Richard Tims at chairmanrich@sheffieldfc.com or visit www.sheffieldfc.com

Richard Caborn and Richard TimsSports Minister Richard Caborn and Sheffield FC chairman Richard Tims with the 2007 pairs of boots ready for South Africa.

Posted: 7th March 2007