Published:
Heriot-Watt University Sports Union donated just under 150 playing tops and brand new shorts and socks for the players and countries competing in the Homeless World Cup in Glasgow, which took place from Sunday 10 July until Saturday 16 July.
During the week long tournament, the city centre of Glasgow was transformed to host the annual Homeless Word Cup using the power of football to inspire homeless people to change their own lives.
Founded in 2001, the Homeless World Cup has engaged with over 100,000 people in over 70 countries and is continually growing to reach out to more people to use the power of football to transform lives. For the seven days that the tournament is in Scotland, Glasgow's George Square has turned into a football frenzy with the tournament ending with the finals day on Saturday 16 July, which saw Mexico crowned champions in both the men and women's competitions.
Dr Mel Young, the President and Co-founder of the Homeless World Cup, is an Economics graduate from Heriot-Watt University and continues to support alumni events at the University, most recently with the Football Club's 70th anniversary dinner in Autumn 2015.
The excess kit comes on the back of the Sports Union announcing a new kit partner in Under Armour. This coupled with the opening of Oriam scheduled for 29 August, (Scotland's National Performance Centre) promises to make it an exciting year to come for student sport at Heriot-Watt.
Having been involved personally at the Homeless World Cup in Poznan 2012, I have seen first-hand the positive impact this tournament and the domestic rehabilitative programmes have in supporting people to make a new life for themselves. It is an absolute privilege to be able to provide a very small gift to the nations involved, which we hope will accompany players as they travel back home all over the world and add to the unforgettable experience that they will now cherish so deeply.
For more information please visit the Homeless World Cup website.
To donate for this fantastic cause please text GOAL to 70660 to donate £5.