Jamie Isaacs, David Langford, Kane Jones-Sayer and Burt Thorne of West End FC with kit they’ve collected so far

Published: 11 February, 2016
by DAN CARRIER

FOOTBALLERS from the Camden and Regent’s Park Youth League are coming together to find 4,000 football kits for people who live in one of the most deprived townships in South Africa. 

West End FC Under-12s striker Jamie Isaacs came up with the idea after visiting the country with his parents, who are South African. 

He saw first hand the conditions young people were living in Alexandra, Johannesburg, one of the nation’s biggest townships – and he met the chairman of Alexandra FC, Maisha Molepo, who organises a club that runs a league for over 4,000 footballers. 

Formed in 1936, the club has 95 teams for children and adults.

The biggest battle the club faces isn’t finding talented players or coaches, or filling the touchlines with supporters – it is finding enough football shirts and boots for sides to play in. 

Alexandra is one of the poorest urban areas in all South Africa. Around 470,000 people live in one square mile with unemployment running at 65 per cent. 

Jamie’s mother Lisa said: “When we visited Alexandra, which is only a few miles away from very affluent areas, we were struck by the overcrowding and poverty. We saw teams playing who did not have boots or kit. We felt this was something we could collect and that it would make such a difference to the young people.

“The chair of the football club said football was so important, and gave a sense of achievement and belonging. Players would value every piece of kit.

“Jamie said that he’d love to see an Under-12s football team playing in their West End shirts. He hopes that he can collect enough for all 95 teams.”

Now the New Journal is joining forces with Jamie and West End FC to collect kits – from boots and shin pads to socks, shorts and shirts – to take to Alexandra. 

Jamie added: “People in my league grow out of kits, and some teams change theirs each season, so I know me and my team-mates always have spare kit. This is a way of making sure they’re used by other people who love football as much as we do and really need them.”

As well as collecting donations from football clubs, the New Journal is calling on schools in Camden and Islington to join the drive – and help reach the magic 4,000 number.

• If you have any spare pieces of football kit – new or used – and you would like to donate, please contact dcarrier@camden newjournal.co.uk or bring it to the New Journal offices at 40 Camden Road, London NW1 9DR.