Samuel Pollard, Author at Green Football's Great Save

Story

7 April 2025

No one should miss out: where to find free football kit and sportswear

Football should be open to everyone, but football kit and sportswear can be expensive, and not everyone has easy access to it.

Many children are left on the sidelines, not because they don’t want to play, but because they don’t feel like they belong without the right kit.

We want to change this. During the Great Save campaign, thousands of pieces of kit have been donated to those who need them through charity shops and kit swaps. Saving kit from landfills helps to protect our world and creates more affordable access to kit.

The game we love shouldn’t have a price tag

If you or someone you know is struggling to afford football boots, PE kit, or other sportswear, there are brilliant organisations that can help for free or at very low cost.

Here are some incredible organisations making a real difference:

Action for Sport is a national charity which helps everyone get access to the kit they need to participate in sport. You can request a kit as a parent, carer, guardian, teacher, club or organisation.

Grassboots is a brilliant app where communities can swap, buy and sell sports kit at affordable prices. Check if your school or club is registered, or set up a marketplace in minutes. If not, you can still use the national ‘Grassboots Club’ to trade preloved sportswear and equipment.

Kiddr is a platform where you can sell, swap and buy preloved sports kit as well as lots of other useful equipment for hobbies. It’s a great affordable way to get your hands on the stuff you need.

Kit Squad collect pre-loved outdoor gear and delivers it to people across the UK. Kitsquad is the only UK-based scheme providing donated adventure gear to those in need.

One Impossible Thing distributes shoes, boots and kit direct to young people, sports teams, PE teachers and more. You can make a shoe request on their website.

Play it Again Wales recycles sports goods in Wales and redistributes to people who need it. Contact them on their Facebook page.

Know someone who could use their support? Or have kit to pass on? Spread the word and be part of The Great Save.

No one should be priced out of the game we all love.

Back to Stories

Story

28 March 2025

Photographer Paul Gilbey captures the impact of climate change on grassroots football

Paul Gilbey is a freelance photographer whose distinctive style captures the energy and emotion of sport and culture in a single frame. His work has been featured in The Guardian, BBC, The Independent, La Repubblica, and more. But it’s his passion for documenting the raw, authentic spirit of grassroots football that truly sets him apart.

For Paul, grassroots football is more than just a game. It’s a community. A feeling. A reminder of what really matters.

“Sometimes, it’s not just about the goals, the banter, or the results, It’s about friends, family, and football.”

His powerful images bring to life the joy, connection, and commitment that unfold every week across muddy pitches up and down the country. From the sidelines packed with partners, kids, and encouragement, to the early Sunday morning rituals that become sacred routines, Paul captures it all.

“On Sunday mornings, it’s not just the game. It’s a reminder of what the perfect life should be.”

“The sidelines may be filled with partners, kids, and questions, but the heart of the game is still family.”

But this way of life is under threat. Over 100,000 grassroots matches are already cancelled each season due to waterlogged or unplayable pitches. Climate change is taking its toll. Rising rainfall, extreme weather, and unpredictable seasons are turning once-reliable community pitches into swamps. If we don’t act now, we risk losing more than just games.

“It’s hard to question ‘This is more than a team’ when you see the passion on those Sunday mornings.”

“Grassroots football isn’t just about playing. It’s about creating memories with those who matter most.”

“In the middle of a muddy field, with a ball at your feet, you realize. This is family.”

It’s time to make The Great Save and protect the pitches, the players, and the shared moments that make grassroots football what it is.

A huge thanks to Paul for donating his photographs to Green Football’s Great Save campaign.

Back to Stories

Story

26 March 2025

Leeds United learn to sew – players tackle kit repairs

At Leeds United’s training ground, Patrick Bamford and two youth players, Sam Chambers and James Debayo took on a new challenge, learning to sew and repair kit. As part of Green Football’s Great Save, they were shown how simple stitching techniques can extend the life of football shirts, helping to reduce the estimated 100,000 tonnes of sportswear that ends up in UK landfills every year.

By taking part, Leeds United players highlighted the importance of repairing, reusing, and keeping kit in play for longer, a small action that can impact football and the planet. You can watch their how to sew video below.

Got a ripped or damaged shirt? Try our easy-to-follow guide to repair it and be part of the Great Save!

Back to Stories

Story

25 March 2025

Shop iconic football kit on eBay and support the Great Save

Fancy owning Mary Earps’ goalkeeping gloves? Or maybe Rio Ferdinand’s signed Manchester United shirt? How about a pair of Peter Crouch’s signed trainers or a designer KIT:BAG upcycled from football shirts by Christopher Raeburn?

As Green Football’s Great Save campaign returns for its third season, big names from the world of football, fashion and beyond are donating their kit to raise funds, reduce waste and protect the future of the game.

Now live on eBay until the end of March, you can bid on exclusive items, including:

Christopher Raeburn KIT:BAGs – three limited-edition bags made from upcycled England, Wales and Scotland football shirts
Demi Stokes – signed Newcastle United training top
Ethan Ampadu – match-worn, signed Leeds United shirt from the full team
Gary Neville and Roy Keane – jointly signed Manchester United shirt
Kris Boyd – match-worn, signed Scotland shirt
Mark Schwarzer – replica boots as worn during the World Cup and Europa League finals
Martin Keown – signed Arsenal training top
Mary Earps – goalkeeper gloves
Peter Crouch – signed trainers
Rio Ferdinand – signed Manchester United shirt

More items will be added throughout the auction so keep checking back.

By getting involved, you’re not just grabbing a piece of football history. You’re helping tackle one of the sport’s toughest opponents: climate change. An estimated 100,000 tonnes of sportswear ends up in UK landfills every year. That’s 951 football shirts thrown away every minute.

Fans across the UK are also encouraged to sell or donate their own pre-loved kit on eBay. It’s a great way to reduce waste, save money and give someone else the chance to enjoy kit that might otherwise end up in landfill.

Funds raised will go towards local club community organisations and help support the Green Football campaign.

Back to Stories

Story

21 March 2025

Meet the charities passing it on

Football has the power to unite communities, but not everyone has access to the kit they need to play. That’s where brilliant charities step in, collecting, redistributing, and passing on pre-loved sportswear to those who need it most.

Charity Boots collects and redistributes football boots and kits to players who need them, ensuring everyone can get on the pitch. They work with schools, grassroots clubs, and community groups to make sure donated kit gets to the right places. You can donate by dropping off items at one of their collection points or post them for free via DHL.

KitAid has been sending sportswear to developing countries for over 25 years, helping to grow the game where kit is hard to come by. They partner with professional clubs, local teams, and individuals to collect and distribute kit globally. Donations can be made at designated collection hubs, through football club partnerships or by post or courier.

Kits for the World provides football kit and equipment to disadvantaged communities worldwide, supporting grassroots football and development programs. They collaborate with other charities and community organisations to distribute kit where it is most needed. You can donate directly via their website or through their partnered collection points.

And these are just a few of the organisations keeping football kit in the game. If you’ve got an old kit at home, passing it on could help someone else step onto the pitch.

Have you donated kit or sportswear to one of these brilliant organisations – or somewhere else? Tell us you’ve made the Great Save to be in with a chance to win prizes.

Back to Stories

Story

20 March 2025

Giving old football kit a new life: RÆBURN’s limited-edition KIT:BAG

Every football shirt tells a story. It’s there for the glory days and the heartbreaks. It carries the names of heroes and the memories of crucial games. But when the final whistle blows, too many of these shirts are thrown away and sent to landfill. Each year in the UK, an estimated 100,000 tonnes of football kit goes to waste. Now, RÆBURN, the fashion brand founded by award-winning designer Christopher Ræburn, is stepping in to shine a light on reusing kit.

As part of Green Football’s Great Save, RÆBURN has created a collection of limited-edition KIT:BAGs, each one crafted from authentic national football shirts. England, Wales and Scotland – reimagined and remade in his East London studio into something new. Functional, beautiful, and filled with the same pride they once carried on the pitch.

Even Wales and Leeds United star Ethan Ampadu has joined the cause, donating one of his own Wales shirts to be remade into a bespoke KIT:BAG. “It’s cool to see how an old shirt can be reused into something like this, which can be used every day,” Ampadu said. “Every year, a huge amount of sports kit gets thrown away, when it could be reused, repurposed, or passed on to someone who needs it. If each of us does something small to cut waste and give our sportswear a second life, we can make a big difference.”

The RÆBURN KIT:BAGs aren’t just accessories. They’re a reminder that every save counts. Christopher Raeburn puts it simply: “There’s an enormous opportunity for remaking and recycling old football kit. My hope is that there will be many creative solutions like KIT:BAG that help to celebrate football shirts in a totally new format.”

The limited-edition KIT:BAGs will be available via a special eBay auction. All proceeds will support the work of Green Football’s Great Save.

Back to Stories

Story

14 March 2025

Club donation points

Across the UK, football clubs are stepping up to reduce kit waste and make football more sustainable. Some are introducing kit donation bins, while others are repurposing old training gear for grassroots teams. With thousands of fans attending matches each week, clubs have the power to drive real change.

These clubs are taking part in Green Football’s Great Save by offering donation points, making it simple for fans to donate old kits and stop them ending up in landfill.

Barnsley
Blackburn Rovers
Bolton Wanderers
Bradford City 
Bristol City  
Burnley  
Cardiff City  
Carlisle United  
Dundee United 
Everton
Exeter City
Hibernian
Ipswich Town
Leicester City
Lincoln City
London City Lionesses
Luton Town 
Manchester United 
Millwall
Northampton Town
Norwich City 
Nottingham Forest  
Oxford United 
Portsmouth  
Preston North End  
Queens Park Rangers
Sunderland
Tottenham Hotspur 
Watford
Walsall 
West Bromwich Albion 
Wycombe Wanderers

Back to Stories

Story

11 March 2025

Football stars ‘pass it on’ to save kit from landfill

Footballers across the UK are making surprise visits to charity shops, donating their own signed shirts and kit as part of Green Football’s Great Save. With around 100,000 tonnes of sportswear discarded in the UK each year, the initiative aims to promote reusing, donating, and upcycling – reducing waste and supporting local communities.

Here are the surprise drops happening, with more to come!

Ethan Ampadu – Leeds – donated a match-worn shirt, his first Leeds captain shirt – Salvation Army, 86 North Street, Ripon, HG4 1JP (Donated)
Asmir Begović – Everton – AB1 goalie gloves, footballs, and hoodies – Salvation Army, 41 Regent Street, Shanklin, Isle of Wight, PO37 7AF (Donated)
Kris Boyd – Kilmarnock – signed Kilmarnock shirt – Salvation Army, 73 King Street, Kilmarnock, KA1 1PT (Donated)
Jamie Carragher – Liverpool – England top from the 2010 World Cup game against the USA – Bright Heart Foundation, 7 Bold Street, Liverpool, L1 4DN (Donated)
Josie Green – Crystal Palace – selection of Crystal Palace kit – Salvation Army, 18 Howardsgate, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6BQ (Donated)
Emma Ilijoski – Aberdeen – shirt – Salvation Army donation centre, Unit B 876, Great Northern Road, Aberdeen, AB24 2BP (Coming soon)
Roy Keane – Manchester United – signed Manchester United shirt – Salvation Army, Unit 11 Grove Village Parade, 184 Stockport Road, Manchester, M13 9AB (Coming soon)
Aaron Ramsey – Cardiff – old kit and gear – British Heart Foundation, 18 Castle Court Shopping Centre, Caerphilly, Glamorgan, CF83 1NU (Coming soon)
Alexei Rojas – Arsenal – signed Arsenal training top and boots – Salvation Army, 207 Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 1BL (Donated)
David Prutton – Southampton – match-worn shirt from approx. 20 years ago – Salvation Army, 86 North Street, Ripon, HG4 1JP (Donated)
Demi Stokes – Newcastle – signed Newcastle United kit and trainers – Salvation Army, 30 High Street, Wallsend, NE28 8HU (Donated)

By taking part in The Great Save, these players are not just passing on their kit, they’re passing on a message: that football has the power to lead change and that small actions, like donating kit, can make a significant impact in the fight against climate change.

Fans across the country now have the opportunity to find these exclusive items in local charity shops, giving the kit a second life instead of contributing to landfill waste.

Back to Stories

Story

11 March 2025

Green Football’s Great Save launches

Jamie Carragher, Roy Keane, Ollie Watkins, Ben Mee, Juan Mata, Demi Stokes, Josie Green, Asmir Begovic and Ethan Ampadu kick off Green Football’s Great Save with secret charity shop kit drops around the country

Football communities across the UK come together to save kit from landfill and help protect the future of football from climate change.

Around 100,000 tonnes of sportswear are relegated to UK landfills every year¹ – the equivalent of 951 football shirts per minute².
Football legends are encouraging people to sell on, re-use or donate old kit, rather than kick it to the back of the landfill net
Green Football’s Great Save runs from 11th March – 2nd April 2025

London, 11th March, 2025; Top footballing talent are making a series of surprise charity shop drops across the country this week, donating their signed sports kit for fans to find. The initiative encourages others to give pre-loved sportswear a second life and highlights the importance of keeping kit in play.

The secret drops mark the start of Green Football’s Great Save, the world’s biggest climate-football campaign, which brings together the football community – fans, players, clubs, leagues, grassroots teams and schools – to take action to tackle climate change and protect the future of the game. This year is all about keeping sports kit in play for longer by donating, selling, reusing or upcycling – helping to reduce waste, save money, and support communities who may lack access to kit.

The surprise kit drop offs include:

Jamie Carragher’s England shirt in Liverpool
A Roy Keane signed Manchester United shirt in Manchester
Ethan Ampadu’s signed first Leeds United captain shirt in Ripon
Demi Stokes’ signed Newcastle United kit in Newcastle
Ben Mee’s signed Brentford shirt in London
Kris Boyd’s signed Kilmarnock shirt in Kilmarnock
Josie Green’s Crystal Palace kit in Welwyn Garden City

Asmir Begović, Emma Ilijoski, Joleon Lescott, Juan Mata, Funso Ojo, David Prutton, Aaron Ramsey, Alexei Rojas, Luke Southwood, Ollie Watkins, Duncan Watmore and David Wheeler will also be taking part.

Ethan Ampadu, Leeds United said: “I’m donating the first shirt I wore after becoming Leeds United captain. It’s very special to me because it is a real honour to lead this club, and the pride I felt walking out at Elland Road in the first game of the season is something I’ll never forget. I’m donating such an important shirt because it’s an important campaign – one that will help make sure future generations can enjoy playing football like I have. Every year, a huge amount of sports kit gets thrown away, when it could be reused, repurposed, or passed on to someone who needs it. If each of us does something small to cut waste and give our sportswear a second life, we can make a big difference”.

Demi Stokes, Newcastle United Women added: “When I was younger, my mum paid for my football kit in monthly instalments, and we made sure it lasted for years. That experience taught me two things – how valuable and important it is to have access to good kit and why it’s important to keep reusing it. That’s why I’ve donated some Newcastle kit and trainers – I love the idea that instead of sitting unused, it can now help someone else stay in the game, while also reducing waste”.

During the campaign, fans can join their sporting heroes and win prizes by donating their old kit to charity, including official charity partner, The Salvation Army, which has dedicated shop drop off points and a kit postal service so fans can donate from the comfort of their own home. Supporters can also keep kit out of landfill by selling pre-loved sportswear on eBay, another Green Football partner. And from 20th March, fans will have the added opportunity of snapping up celebrity-owned sports kit in an exclusive eBay auction, together with limited edition Raeburn Green Football KIT:BAGs upcycled from used football shirts. Many clubs will also be hosting Green Football donation bins during the campaign.

Every year, an estimated 100,000 tonnes of sportswear ends up in UK landfills¹ – the equivalent to 951 football shirts every minute². Clothing sent to landfill can take decades to break down and contribute to methane emissions—a powerful greenhouse gas which fuels climate change. Keeping kit in play for just nine more months could reduce its carbon, water, and waste footprint by up to 30%.³

Climate change is threatening the future of football, with the FA estimating that 100,000 grassroots games are already cancelled every year due to pitch conditions. By 2050, one in four English football clubs can expect partial or total stadium flooding each year⁴.

Sarah Jacobs, Green Football Director, said: “Football has an unequalled power to drive change, and it’s incredible to see so many clubs, fans, grassroots teams and players coming together to help save kit from landfill. Whether it’s donating a shirt or finding a new purpose for old kit, every action contributes to reducing waste, promoting sustainability in football and helping to protect the game we love. There’s a huge opportunity for the footballing community to lead the way in sport when it comes to kit. None of us are perfect, but by being on the journey together, we can make a real difference.”

More than 100 clubs across the UK and in Australia are set to take part in Green Football’s Great Save; encouraging fans to take action, showcasing their own sustainability work, holding Green Football matches and hosting special kit activations, including on-site repair services, sewing lessons with players and upholstering hospitality boxes with old shirts. Thousands of schools will be holding special Green Football lessons, and County FAs will be supporting their 18,000 grassroots clubs to participate in reselling, resharing and donating pre-loved kit and footwear.

By taking part in Green Football’s Great Save, fans can win prizes including a year’s free Sky Sports and match tickets. They can also score goals for their club in the Green Football Cup, where fans help their team climb up the leaderboard by taking green pledges and actions, such as travelling greener, eating more veg and saving energy.

For more information on all the activities and how to get involved, go to www.greenfootball.org

Green Football’s Great Save is co-founded by Sky Sports, TNT Sports, the Football Supporters Association, Pledgeball, Count Us In and exceptional. It is backed by the FA, various EFL clubs, WPLL, SPFL, SWFL, the PFA in the UK and Australia, and PGMOL.

***ENDS***

For more information or talent interviews please contact Rob Baney / 07794 093835 [email protected] or Jane Hill / [email protected] / 07798 605799

NOTES TO EDITORS

Jamie Carragher, Roy Keane, Ollie Watkins, Ben Mee, Juan Mata, Demi Stokes, Josie Green, Asmir Begovic and Ethan Ampadu kick off Green Football’s Great Save with secret charity shop kit drops around the country

Green Football’s partners are Christopher Raeburn / RÆBURN, eBay, Goal Click, Let’s Go Zero, Levy UK + Ireland, Match of the Day (MOTD), MatchWornShirts, Push Gilbey Photography, Rio Ferdinand Foundation, Sky Schools, Sodexo Live! UK & Ireland, The Salvation Army, Usborne Publishing, We Fix Kits and Zurich Resilience Solutions.
It is also supported by Brent Council, C40, Caudwell Children, Common Goal, Dan Freedman, Final Third, Football for Future, GlobeScan, ITV, the Met Office, Network 10, Planet League and Push Gilbey Photography.
Please see HERE for references to statistics.
Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd (SATCoL) is the trading arm (and a wholly owned subsidiary) of The Salvation Army in the UK and Republic of Ireland. SATCoL actively encourages the reuse and recycling of donated clothing and other household items through over 250 charity stores, and a nationwide network of around 9,000 clothing banks.

Back to Stories

Story

4 March 2025

The Marshall Islands’ disappearing kit

In the Marshall Islands, football is more than just a game. It is a fight for survival. The island nation, home to just 42,000 people, is battling rising sea levels threatening to wipe it off the map. Now, its football team is using the sport to send a message about climate change, starting with a kit that is vanishing before our eyes.

Football in the Marshall Islands is only just beginning. Until recently, the country had no team and no 11-a-side pitch. Their first full-size pitch, built for the 2023 Micronesian Games, only got approval because it also serves as a sea defence. That is how serious the climate threat is.

This year, the Marshall Islands Soccer Federation launched the no home jersey. Decorated with the islands’ unique flora, fauna and cultural emblems, the design carries a powerful message. The number 1.5 is printed on every jersey, marking the 1.5 degrees Celsius global temperature rise that could be catastrophic for Pacific island nations. In addition, each time the federation posted an image of the shirt online, more of the shirt disappeared, mirroring the land being lost to the rising ocean. That is why they used football to tell their story and fight back.

Green Football’s Great Save is using the power of football to protect our planet. Just as the Marshall Islands’ disappearing kit highlights the threat of rising seas, football waste is another crisis harming the game. Every season, 120,000 grassroots matches in the UK are cancelled due to flooding. Now, fans, clubs, and leagues are stepping up to make the great save, keeping kit in play instead of throwing it away.