#ChangeLivesThroughFootball shirt launch on Saturday

Greensnet Editor
Wed 20 Feb 2013, 06:37

As we recently mentioned, we have donated the shirt sponsorship on their home kit to the football charity Street League for the rest of the season, and this will be officially launched on Saturday afternoon.

In the unique arrangement, the Hendon shirt now features Street League's Twitter hashtag – #ChangeLivesThroughFootball.
Street League 'change lives through football' across the UK for some of the one million unemployed 16 to 25-year-olds.

This involves an eight-week Academy course in which they gain three nationally accredited qualifications, receive help with their CV, interview practice, play 11-a-side matches, improve their fitness and much more.

At the end of the programme, participants are much more motivated and job ready, with 76% of Street League graduates moving into further employment, education or training.

Street League chief executive Matt Stevenson-Dodd said: "We are very grateful to Hendon FC for their support. Football is our national game and, through our work at Street League, we know how it can be used to help turn lives around every day."

Chairman Simon Lawrence explained why the club had decided to donate the kit sponsorship to Street League.

"We've had a pretty tough time of it over the past few years," he said. "The loss of our Claremont Road ground has made it difficult for us to stay connected to our local community. Tough economic conditions have made it harder for our fans to get to our games and almost impossible for us to attract sponsors and advertisers. Being fans-owned is much harder than just being fans.

"But we're not the only ones to have had it tough. We're all aware of the fact that it is harder than ever for young people to get into the job market. We applaud the hard work being done at Street League and want to be a part of it. We couldn't think of a better way to be part of Street League than by helping them to promote their brand. Everyone at Hendon Football Club is delighted to do our bit to help 'change lives through football'."

The new shirt makes its official launch on Saturday, February 23, when Hendon entertain local rivals Wealdstone. Street League graduates will be attending the game to see the shirt for themselves.