Witton Albion champions Help for Heroes cause (From Northwich Guardian)

Witton Albion champions Help for Heroes cause

12:00pm Friday 20th August 2010 in

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FOOTBALL players for a Northwich club will show their support for wounded soldiers by saving a space on their shirts to promote a worthy cause.

Witton Albion’s red and white striped kit is to have Help for Heroes’ logo on the front – a spot usually reserved for a commercial sponsor.

It marks the start of a new link with the national charity.

“We loved the idea from the start,” said Albion chairman Mark Harris.

“It ticks all the boxes; as a non-league football club with a decent level of exposure, we can help the charity get across their message to a large number of people.

“I was prepared to run without a sponsor at all, but this is an infinitely better idea.”

He told the Guardian that one of the club’s supporters, who does not wish to be named, made the suggestion to the board last month.

The fan offered to make a donation to Albion in return for the Wincham Park outfit backing Help for Heroes (H4H), which pays grants to injured soldiers to help them get treatment.

Harris added: “We were blown away by his generous gesture.”

He said the charity, represented by mid Cheshire-based volunteer Kane Gunter at Witton’s pre-season photoshoot on Monday, was surprised to hear from the club.

But Albion plan to make the partnership a practical one.

A percentage of every replica shirt sale will be donated to Help for Heroes, plus the club plans to offer free entry to home matches for service personnel.

“The football world has been incredibly supportive of us,” said H4H chief executive Bryn Parry.

“We’re delighted to see this continue with our logo displayed on Witton Albion’s strip.”