Harriers Foundation donate kit to Aid through Football

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HARRIERS Foundation has joined clubs across the country in donating kit to The RAF FA’s Aid through Football initiative.

The RAF Football Association (RAF FA) Taking Football to Africa and Beyond Charitable Appeal, Aid through Football, is operated from RAF Shawbury in North Shropshire.

Donated items of football kit are redistributed to children and adults across the globe, organised by Wing Commander Neil Hope MBE, and Squadron Leader Mark Smales. Originally set up in 2006 to deliver kit to Africa, the initiative quickly went global.

The initiative has been fortunate to have a large number of donors, with Harriers, through its Foundation now joining the long list. From individuals, to clubs from grassroots, up to the Premier League, items have been distributed to the less fortunate in North and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia.

The kit collected from Aggborough includes old and unused items donated by the Harriers Foundation, as well as items collected by Worcestershire County FA from grassroots clubs, who have donated, across the county. This kit will be distributed on their next expedition in the New Year by a team of 15, made up of a mixture of military and civilian personnel.

When stopping by at Aggborough to collect from a van full of donations, Squadron Leader Mark Smales is pleased to see another Worcestershire club come on board.

“It’s fantastic to have established a link with a club so local to us and are really grateful to Harriers Foundation for reaching out to us through Worcestershire FA,” he said.

“Sending the kit to Africa has become a real passion for so many of us – we know it’s not possible to simply fix the problem of people in parts of the world not having enough, but this is about doing the right thing and doing what you can to contribute, and football is very much a communal language.

“Tons of football kit sits wasted in storage and in wardrobes in football clubs and homes across the country, and this is about putting that to good use.

“What we’ve seen from the work we’ve done and the people we’ve seen is that this makes a difference in the lives of people who need it.”

Speaking on this latest link-up, Harriers Foundation Community Engagement Manager, Adam Whitley, expressed delight with getting involved in this initiative.

“At Kidderminster Harriers and the Harriers Foundation, we’ve seen how football connects people everywhere,” he added.

“Partnering with the RAF to pass on our old kits is a simple act, but one that can make a big difference to lives across the world.

“We’re proud to play our part in football’s global family.”

Military Day at Aggborough – Saturday 8th November 2025

Saturday’s fixture against Darlington will mark Military Day at Aggborough. The Club have linked up with Stepway, a local veterans charity, who have distributed a number of free tickets to local veterans.

Pre-match there will be fundraising for Stepway, with a raffle in the Aggborough Suite, whilst there will also be Royal British Legion poppy sellers on-site, for those who don’t already have a poppy, or simply wish to donate.

Ahead of kick-off, a wreath will be laid in the centre circle by a member of the Armed Forces prior to the sounding of the Last Post and a period of silence in memory of those who have been lost.

Military personnel can use a Blue Light Card to obtain discounted tickets to matches at Aggborough Stadium throughout the season, which will be available at the concessionary price.

If you have a Blue Light Card and wish to attend a match at Aggborough, you’ll need to purchase your tickets in person, in advance of match day or by calling 01562 823931, to claim your discount.

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