News and Press Releases

McDONALD’S KICKS OFF ‘BOOTS FOR AFRICA’ SUMMER APPEAL (18th May 2008)

Sir Geoff Hurst joins local youngsters to launch initiative

McDonald’s today launched a new appeal in support of the ‘Boots for Africa’ campaign in Corbridge, Northumberland.

Youngsters, families and coaches who participate in selected McDonald’s football festivals across England this summer will be able to donate boots at mobile collection points and help the ‘Boots for Africa’ charity provide two million pairs of used football boots to children in Africa.  

Today’s festival at the Tynedale Rugby Club in Corbridge saw Sir Geoff Hurst MBE, McDonald’s Director of Football, on hand to donate the first pair of boots in the summer-long campaign alongside festival goers.  These included 500 local youngsters, ranging from 7 - 16 years, and some of the coaches that McDonald’s has created in the region through its community football coaching programme. 

For those who weren’t able to attend the festival but would like to get involved, ‘Boots for Africa’ has set up a number of mobile collection points across the North East (see .

Sir Geoff Hurst MBE, McDonald’s Director of Football, said: “Our festivals are a great way to bring football, families and fun together and it’s even better when we can join together to help others.   The Boots for Africa campaign, of which McDonald’s is a Founding Partner, is a great initiative and gives the footballers and fans in this country the chance to help kids in Africa enjoy the game.”

Event organiser, Mark Woodhall of the Northumberland County FA, added: "We’re delighted to be involved with McDonald’s and the Boots for Africa campaign. The festival offers local youngsters the chance to meet legends such as Sir Geoff Hurst MBE, get great footballing tips from legendary youth coach Eric Harrison and also give something back to the game by donating their old boots for a great cause.”

The festival in Corbridge is part of McDonald’s Football Festival Tour which will give over 10,000 British youngsters from across more than 50 communities the chance to play football, receive coaching and enjoy a great day out.

Since 2002, over 200 new coaches have been created in Northumberland to give more children access to qualified coaching courtesy of McDonald’s community football coaching programme.  For more information on the programme, go to www.mcdonalds.co.uk.

NOAH FIRST TO DONATE BOOTS FOR AFRICA (17th April 2008)

Noah Ellis has become the first person to donate a pair of boots to a unique campaign helping young people in Africa.

The 6-year-old from Shildon, near Bishop Auckland, handed the footwear to former Newcastle United striker Les Ferdinand at the launch of Boots for Africa.

More than 50,000 pairs of football boots are being raised as part of Boots for Africa which aims to make football more accessible to children in the townships of South Africa.

Ferdinand made a special return to the North East by helping to kick-off the campaign along with scores of youngsters attending a soccer fun camp at the Complete Football Centre in Gosforth.

Noah's mum Jill said: "We were at the Complete Football Centre as part of Newcastle's football in the community initiative when we met Les Ferdinand and were told about Boots for Africa.

"To meet Les was terrific and I think we were just as excited to see him as Noah was!

"Boots for Africa seemed a great scheme and Noah was happy to give-up his boots for someone of a similar age in Africa. At Noah's age kids are out-growing their boots all the time, so it's a terrific opportunity for more youngsters to re-use them.

"I am also in the process of collecting unused boots from Noah's team Bishop Auckland St Mary's juniors, so they can take part in this campaign."

Boots for Africa has been devised by Sheffield FC - the world's first football club - with the aim of gaining support from schools and junior clubs from across the North East and Yorkshire.

Junior clubs and members of the public can donate their wearable boots of any size to the campaign by making a £2 donation to receive their boots bag pack.

The boots are then placed in the bag with the name of the person donating, before being sent on to young people in Africa.

Boots for Africa has already received support from the English Football Association, FIFA, the African Football Confederation, the South African Sports Trust and the South African High Commission.

McDonalds are also founding partners, helping to increase awareness of the unique campaign.

For teams or clubs wanting to donate more than one pair of boots, a special group donation pack has been produced to assist them.

For more information about how to donate to Boost for Africa, please email info@bootsforafrica.org, phone 0191 222 0440 or visit www.bootsforafrica.org

● Bishop Auckland St Mary's has teams ranging from the under 6s to the under 18s, further information can be found at www.basmj.co.uk. Anyone interested in sponsoring the under 6s please contact Jill Ellis, team secretary on 07925 376389.

FORMER NEWCASTLE STAR LAUNCHES BOOTS CAMPAIGN

Newcastle United legend and former England striker Les Ferdinand has launched Boots for Africa - a unique campaign to raise 50,000 pairs of football boots to deprived children in South Africa.

Ferdinand, who scored five goals in 17 appearances for his country, began the campaign with scores of youngsters attending a soccer fun camp at the Complete Football Centre in Gosforth.

Boots for Africa has been devised by Sheffield FC - the world's first football club - with the aim of gaining support from schools and junior clubs from across the North East and Yorkshire.

Ferdinand said: "I'm delighted to support the Boots for Africa campaign. The appeal is a brilliant way for children in the UK to share the game of football with the children of Africa.

"I'm very happy to be getting involved in what I think is a really worthwhile charity. I have experienced the inspiration and sense of achievement that football can bring and this campaign is helping to give the same opportunity to children in Africa.

"Sharing football boots is such a simple but effective way of improving the quality of football for these children.

"I wish Boots for Africa the best of luck in delivering as many pairs of football boots as possible."

The campaign plans to deliver thousands of cleaned-up football boots and help make the game more accessible to young people in South Africa ahead of the 2010 World Cup. Junior clubs and members of the public can donate their wearable boots of any size to the campaign by making a £2 donation to receive their boots pack.

Sheffield FC chairman Richard Tims added: "Africa will be staging the World Cup in 2010 for the first time in the competition's history and we felt this gave an opportunity for everyone to make a difference to the future of the game.

"Sheffield FC and indeed England is seen as where the game truly began. We want to use this standing to again sow the seeds for the next generation of players and ultimately create a knock-on affect for the World Cup.

"These boots may be the children's first ever pair and each will offer a generation of young people a new sense of hope, pride and ambition.

"We hope junior clubs, schools and members of the public across the North East and Yorkshire will support this unique campaign and help us achieve our target of raising more than 50,000 pairs of boots."

Boots for Africa has already received support from the English Football Association, FIFA, the African Football Confederation, the South African Sports Trust and the South African High Commission.

McDonald's are also founding partners of Boots for Africa, helping to increase awareness of the unique campaign. Steve Easterbrook, President and Chief Executive of McDonald's UK says: "The Boots for Africa appeal is a fantastic initiative and McDonald's is delighted to be teaming up with Sheffield FC to add real value to what is a great cause."

For teams or clubs wanting to donate more than one pair of boots, a special group donation pack has been produced to assist them.

For more information about how to donate to Boots for Africa, please email info@bootsforafrica.org or phone 0191 222 0440.