Airdrieonians Football Club, in association with the Airdrieonians Supporters’ Trust, are pleased to announce a unique offer to young people under the age of 16.
Give us an old football strip, from any club in any size, and we will give you a FREE season ticket!
That’s right. In return for a full kit, a shirt or a set of shorts and socks, youngsters will be able to cheer on Gary Bollan and his players for FREE during the 2014-15 League One campaign.
The trust have teamed up with the charity KitAid which has donated more than 200,000 strips to people in some of the poorest countries in the world.
The non-profit organisation, which is based in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year and boasts former England manager Graham Taylor as its patron.
And fans’ trust members want to support KitAid’s work and promote the charity in Scotland while filling the main stand at New Broomfield with the fans of tomorrow and strengthening links with the local community.
The initiative was promoted at the stadium on Monday night with current stars Liam Coogans and Chris O’Neil joined by ex-Airdrie stars Andy Smith, Bryan Prunty and young Jordan Allan – who himself would qualify for the scheme! – lending their support.
It will be officially launched on Saturday, June 28, at Airdrie’s Wee Fair Day where the trust will have a stall and be selling official club merchandise.
Here’s how the project will work:
Step 1: A young person under the age of 16, or their parent or guardian, finds an old football strip, shirt or shorts and socks set at home.
Step 2: Come to the supporters’ trust stall at Airdrie’s Wee Fair Day and hand it over to committee members.
Step 3: Receive a voucher which can be exchanged for a FREE under-16s season ticket and guarantees admission to all regular season matches in League One next season including the big games against Ayr United, Dunfermline Athletic and Morton.
Step 4: Airdrie’s new young season-ticket holder enjoys a whole year of FREE football while KitAid receive the old kit and send it out to somewhere in the world.
Supporters’ Trust chair Willie Marshall has urged young people to take advantage of this wonderful offer and help those in need at the same time.
He said: “The trust is delighted to be able to announce this unique season-ticket scheme thanks to the support of the club and is proud to be supporting the excellent work of charity Kit Aid.
“The second half of last season saw everyone at the club – players, coaches, officials and fans – pull together and make sure Airdrieonians remained in League One.
“A run of just one defeat in 16 games thanks to the superb efforts of Gary and his players put smiles on faces and re-energised those who love the club and want to see it flourish.
“This summer is the ideal time to build on the feelgood factor created and do something positive to attract the next generation of Airdrieonians fans to New Broomfield which will ensure the club has a successful and sustainable future.
“There is no catch. Young people under the age of 16 will receive a voucher entitling them to a FREE season ticket in return for their old football kit. It doesn’t have to be Airdrie kit. It can be from any club. The only stipulation is that it must be in reasonable condition as Kit Aid will be sending it overseas to be worn again.
“Our ‘Kids for Free’ scheme in the second half of last season proved extremely popular and we want to build on that. We want the football club to be at the very centre of the local community and be a community club. This is about engaging with young people, putting the club on the map and supporting those who have very little in other parts of the world.”
The trust hopes to donate 10,000 strips by the end of the year – and potentially enter the Guinness Book of World Records!
Willie explained: “Another aspect of this scheme is our bid to create a world record for most items of kit donated which is why we want to involve the whole community.
“We would love to receive unwanted kit from boys’ clubs and amateur teams, as well as from individuals, over the coming months.
“This is something very special everybody in the community can feel a part of.”
Diamonds director Ann Marie Ballantyne said: “Like any football club, Airdrie FC know that it is important to attract the fans of the future.
“This initiative by the trust in conjunction with their ongoing work with the Airdrie Aces forms a sound basis of young people who will support the club for many years to come. Once a Diamond, always a Diamond.”
KitAid founder Derrick Williams MBE enthused: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with all at Airdrieonians. This is such a novel and fantastic idea and we are sure it will be a massive success with the local community. We hope this is the start of a long and lasting partnership with the club.”
Further details of when and where strips can be exchanged for vouchers entitling the holders to free under-16s season tickets will be announced in due course.
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