A children’s football team in Salford is following in the famous footsteps of Barcelona and showcasing a charity on their team kit.
The Spanish team famously refused lucrative shirt sponsorship deals and donated the space to children’s charity UNICEF.
Now a mystery benefactor has sponsored De La Salle FC under 8s team new away kit.
But rather than having a business logo splashed across the front of the shirts, they offered to raise the profile of a good cause.
A parent of the one of the players suggested Seashell Trust, where is she is a fundraiser.
The Greater Manchester charity educates and cares for some of the most profoundly disabled children and young people in the country.
It runs a special school and college as well as residential homes in Cheadle Hulme.
Seashell Trust student Scarlett Hickey and her mum Charlotte Mellor went down to a De La Salle training session to see the team proudly wearing their new shirts.
Scarlett, aged five, from Worsley, has attended the Royal School Manchester run by the charity since September 2014.
She was diagnosed with optic nerve hypoplasia at four and half months old. It is an under development of the optic nerve, which causes her to be blind.
Jo Barber, from Seashell Trust, said: “It is such a great way for more people to hear about the fantastic work we do with children with complex disabilities. We couldn’t believe the sponsor made such a generous gesture and the team will play with such pride at having the Seashell Trust logo on their chests.”
Team coach Greig Aspinall said: “Thanks to the sponsor, my De La Salle FC under 8s team is delighted to be able to support such a worthy cause and hopefully help raise awareness of Seashell Trust.”
The sponsor has asked to remain anonymous.
Main image: (Back row) Thomas Aspinall, Kyan Sollis, Brendan Dalli, Harrison Wright, Finlay Goldstraw (Front row) Jamie Barber, Scarlett Hickey, James Dawes
