Stevenage FC have joined a group of clubs including Watford and Liverpool in support of a very worthy charity called KitAid. The charity was set up by an employee of Veolia Water, Derrick Williams MBE, who visited Tanzania on a WaterAid supporters' trip in 1998. Derrick, being a mad footie fan, was amazed at the reception he received from children and adults in remote villages just because he was wearing his favourite football shirt.

After two weeks in Tanzania, a flame was lit in Derrick's heart and he was on a mission to provide kit and equipment to the bare-footed children playing with footballs made of tied string and plastic bags.  Ten years on, KitAid has Graham Taylor OBE as its Patron, lots of volunteers and to date has sent out 100,000 kits to children and adults in 30 different countries across the world.

“I’m immensely proud to be KitAid’s Patron,” Taylor said. “Not only has the organisation gone from strength to strength over the last decade, the willingness of football clubs at all levels to have kit collection days, shows that football as a whole does indeed have a caring side.

“To see the photographs - of children in particular - from some of the poorest countries in the world, receiving and wearing the kit that has been sent to them is just reward indeed for the fabulous work that KitAid does. Long may it continue!  Many thanks to all those individuals, clubs and partners who not only donate kit, but help make sure we get them to the right destinations.” 

2010 got off to a great start at KitAid’s first boxing up session of the year with 64 boxes of kit packaged up, ready to be taken out to The Gambia, Tanzania, Sierra Leone and South Africa by various charities and individuals.

Retail Manager Holly Worland says “ KitAid is a local charity to Stevenage FC, with its main alliance being based at Veolia Water in Hatfield. After speaking to Derrick about the hard work himself and his volunteers put in to help obtain football kits and other sporting clothing to donate to those less fortunate I wanted to help link the club with their charity.

“Any supporters can donate their unwanted football shirts, whether they be Man United or Stevenage in the club shop here at the Stadium and the club will arrange for them to be given on a regular basis to KitAid. Other items like shorts, socks, football boots and even old footballs will also be taken in”

Any Supporters attending the Stevenage FC Open Day at the Academy on this Sunday can bring along their kit to the club shop stand to the launch of the partnership. Larger items for donation, such as team kits will be gratefully accepted. Please email Holly on hollyw@stevenageborofc.com if you wish to get involved with KitAid.