Police officer starts 'football boots for all' campaign

The son of a Bristol Rover's stalwart has joined forces with schools to collect unwanted football boots for disadvantaged children in Bristol.

Defender Graham Day died aged 67 in February and his son Ryan is leading the city's football boots campaign. Graham made 130 appearances for Bristol Rovers between 1974 and 1979.

The response has been "overwhelming" and is even backed by the current Rovers manager Joey Barton.

Ryan said his dad would have supported the campaign: "He started in grassroots football and without football I don't know what his life would have been. It's all about inclusion so I think he would have been very pleased."

The barrier he said was "football boots are expensive - £80, £90, £100 a pair".

So far Mr Day, who is a PC for Avon and Somerset Police, said he had received 30-40 emails per day offering donations, and Bristol Rover's manager, as well as defender Luke Leahy, had posted a video message supporting the campaign.

The City Academy in Easton is one of the schools that will benefit from the scheme.

PE Teacher Tom Fudge said: "We can't get on the Astroturf without children having the correct boots."

With more boots to choose from he said "it'll give the students the opportunity to have boots that fit them".

Malang, 12, said many of his friends missed out when they did not have the right equipment.

"If you don't have the right boots you have to sit out, and they have to call your parents and explain to them why you haven't got the football boots, and it's really boring and frustrating."

Pupil Rosse-Marie said: "Some people don't have the money to buy boots so they don't do PE some days. It'll make a big difference because people who don't have boots will get free boots.”

Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-56322908

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