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.

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!

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.

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.

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