DON’T hang up your boots, donate them instead – that is the message to local footballers from Rugby’s MP, who is backing an eco-friendly campaign to recycle at least a million pairs of boots.
Mark Pawsey is supporting the new Football Rebooted campaign launched by smart energy supplier Utilita and former England and Premier League goalkeeper David James MBE.
By recycling ‘pre-played’ football boots and astro boots, the campaign hopes to save families a small fortune, as well as 136,000 tonnes of carbon – equivalent to taking 7,000 cars off the road for a year, or turning the energy off in a million houses for a week.
Mr Pawsey said: “As we recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, one of the most important things we can do is take part in sports activities again – and Football Rebooted gives youngsters who might have missed out because they don’t have the right kit a chance to do so.
“It’s also great for the environment and really stresses how important reusing and recycling is in our day-to-day lives, so I’m really pleased to be able to support this campaign.”
The campaign aims to get good boots through to families struggling to afford new ones.
Donated boots will reappear at one of many claim stations which will pop up in parks, training grounds, and at some of the UK’s largest football clubs.
Premium pairs of the ‘most wanted’ retro boots and former and current players’ boots and other items will also be in the mix, giving anyone a chance to come along and grab a pair of football boots.
Utilita’s State of Play report revealed that out of the 74 percent of families who had been impacted financially by the pandemic, 18 percent won’t be able to send their kids back to grassroots football as they can’t afford boots and other items such as goalie gloves and shin pads.
Campaign ambassador David James MBE added: “Right now, there are millions of pairs of football boots that people have grown out of or replaced, and we need to make sure they don’t end up in landfill.
“Getting these boots replayed through Utilita’s Football Rebooted campaign will not only save players a few quid but will also act as an important reminder about the power of upcycling and reusing items that still have a lot of life left in them.”
Visit www.footballrebooted.co.uk to request a freepost ‘boot bag’ for second-hand boots.
