Accrington Stanley give school children replica shirts in new scheme
Thursday 8 February 2018 16:29, UK
To mark 50 years since Accrington Stanley reformed after dropping out of the football league, the club will give a replica shirt to every Year Three primary school child in the town.
The scheme from club owner Andy Holt will see pupils receive a shirt in a new initiative to encourage children and families to get involved in sport and have pride in the town.
Holt has pledged to continue it for the next five years, which will cost around £150,000.
On Thursday, 1,200 Year Three pupils in the area, alongside 200 teachers, went to the Wham Stadium to receive their shirts, arriving on buses donated by local businesses.
Burnley loanee Jimmy Dunne, Kayden Jackson and Charlie Rowan - on loan from Watford - were among the first-team players to give out the shirts.
While Dunne said he is surprised by the amount of supporters the League Two club does get, he reiterated the importance of encouraging local support to the club with bigger sides surrounding them in the area.
Dunne said: "Accrington is in between a lots of big clubs, Preston, Bolton, Blackburn, Burnley, so it is hard for a small club to try and attract the amount of fans that they do.
"But they're doing really well because at the games there are two or three thousand and it's great to see all the local schools support us as well. I'm surprised by the amount we do get.
Click on the video to hear about the new initiative at Accrington Stanley
