Young footballers at Southwark’s Harris Academy schools have swapped their polo shirts for swanky new strips thanks to a donation worth £33,000.
Online clothing retailer MandM kindly gave £250,000 to the Harris Federation meaning all its 54 schools will be playing in fresh kits this season.
Harmony, a Harris Academy Peckham student and footballer, said: “I feel so happy wearing this new kit. It’s really comfortable.
“We used to wear our PE kits before, a polo t-shirt with leggings or shorts, and this kit now makes me feel like I’m part of a team. It makes me feel proud!”
The lucky schools are Harris Academy Peckham, Harris Academy Bermondsey, Harris Girls’ Academy East Dulwich, Harris Boys’ Academy East Dulwich, and their two primaries in East Dulwich and Peckham Park.
The new shirts have been personalised for each school, featuring their distinctive badge and colours, and are sponsored by MandM.
Each school bundle includes match tops for outfield players and goalkeepers, shorts and socks as well as a team kit bag.
Mike Tomkins, Chairman of MandM, said: “As a business, MandM is aligned with the Harris Federation’s values in social mobility and equality so we are delighted to be helping make a difference for their students and doing what we can to encourage participation in sport.”
Sir Dan Moynihan, CEO of the Harris Federation, said: “Our 54 primary and secondary academies are setting new standards of educational achievement in some of the most challenging and disadvantaged areas of London.
“Sport is a really important part of our success so we, and the many young footballers at our academies now playing in new kits as a result of MandM’s generosity, are hugely grateful for this collaboration.”