all kitted out
Kids footie teams score brand new strips thanks to Scottish Sun and Specsavers
GRASSROOTS football gets kids outdoors, boosts their fitness, teamwork and resilience - and helps us develop Scotland’s stars of the future.
Headline
here
SEcondary head
line here
SPONSORED
This icon must
always be used at
the top of any article
ARTICLE INTROS
First two paragraphs must be bold and then ideally an image after those paragraphs
FONT SIZES
Not mandatory but roughly keep to The Sun Heavy Condensed 101/89 for main heading and 45 / 41 for the secondary
FONT SIZES
Body copy font size is 16pt / 22pt leading and the font is The Sun
BACKGROUND
Doesn't have to be red, can be any colour you want but keep the main body copy on black
PAGE WIDTH
These must be kept the same. The main content must sit inside a 980px box and then all copy must sit within a width of 940px, indicated by the guides
PROMOTED CONTENT
Two deck
headline
here
SEcondary headline here
Tom is the fourth generation of his family to run multi award-winning Grierson Bros Butchers in Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway.
He joined the firm straight from school and is passionate about serving his customers premium quality meat that has only been reared on Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) assured holdings.
He says: “All our meat is locally sourced, and Scotch assured, so it’s guaranteed to offer the very best eating experience.
“Our Specially Selected Pork comes from a farm near Lockerbie. I’ve known the farmers I work with for years and I know that their animals are reared properly, to the highest welfare standards.
“That’s so important to me because it’s the right way to do things, supporting local businesses and giving our customers the highest quality products too.
“Everything we sell is Scottish, right the way through.”
But new strips can be expensive - and that’s where our brilliant giveaway Free Footie Kits for Kids, in partnership with Specsavers, comes in.
In the last few years, we’ve given away hundreds of free strips for grassroots teams, kitting out youngsters in the gear they need to succeed.
Specsavers, which has locally owned businesses located in communities across Scotland, is passionate about grassroots football, is delighted to have helped support the next generation of players.
Jenny Stephenson
Specsavers is proud to have once again supported the Free Footy Kits for Kids campaign
CLAREMONT AFC
DEDICATED coach Jonny Holden sees the benefits of grassroots football first hand – and is thrilled that his team have brand new kit to play in Jonny, who has coached Claremont AFC for four years, said: "Grassroots football is a great way to get boys outside, exercising in the fresh air and making new friends.
"Sometimes they come to training with their heads down but once they’ve had a ball at their feet for a bit, there’s a smile on their faces again.
"We’re a community team and we keep the costs as low as possible so that any child in the community can play – it’s all about bringing the boys together.
"Kits for Kids means they all have matching kits, and we’ve not had to ask their parents to chip in for it, which is great.
"Wearing matching gear gives them a sense of pride and togetherness."
The team – who also scooped £250 to spend on sports equipment with their brilliant celebration video – trains twice a week and play matches on a Saturday morning.
East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire
‘IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE’
Dr Alastair Cook
With hundreds of places to visit - from museums and art galleries to RSPB nature reserves, music, food and drink festivals and everything in between - there’s a host of fun days out that are ideal for the whole family.
And great value deals, like Good Journey discounts on selected attraction entry fees when you travel by train or bus, mean you won’t have to blow the budget either.
Michael Golding, Chief Executive Officer at the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions, said: “Visitors travel from all over the world to experience Scotland’s incredible attractions, yet we often overlook the outstanding places that are right on our doorstep.
“From history and heritage to culture, adventure, and family fun, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.”
GOOD FOR FAMILY FUN
CAMERA OBSCURA AND
WORLD OF ILLUSIONS - EDINBURGH
we often overlook the outstanding places that are right on our doorstep
"
This time round, we had kits to hand out to 150 community sides – and all the teams had to do was upload a video of their best goal celebration.
The squads have each received a set of seven strips, complete with shorts, top and socks, and including a goalie kit, worth more than £300.
And one lucky team – Claremont AFC, of East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire – also scooped a bumper prize of £250 to go towards new equipment after submitting the best celebration vid.
Meanwhile, the nine runners up won £100 each. Here, we talk to four teams who are thrilled to have landed a new kit.
"
"
Jenny Stephenson, Divisional Chair for Scotland, said: "Specsavers is proud to have once again supported the Free Footy Kits for Kids campaign. With a great response, the initiative has highlighted just how vital grassroots football is in Scotland.
"Our long-standing commitment to Scottish football, including more than 24 years of sponsorship of Scotland's match officials and more recently the men and women’s National Teams, has only strengthened our desire to give back to the community.
"Partnering with the Scottish Sun on this initiative has allowed us to help young people get active, learn valuable life skills, and most importantly, have fun playing the beautiful game.
"The Free Footie Kits for Kids initiative will make a positive impact on local football groups across Scotland, and Specsavers looks forward to seeing even more young players thrive in the future."
Jonny’ son, Harrison, eight, is Team Captain. Harrison added: "It felt great when we got the new kit – we were all cheering.
"The new kit will help us play even better and we’d like to buy new goals, footballs and hurdles with the prize money we won."
^
CLAREMONT's
goal celebration
^
COACH Paul McArthur has run the school’s team for more than 16 years - and says the kids are over the moon with their new kit.
The janitor, who is also a former Queens Park striker, is delighted with our free Kits for Kits and said the kids are over the moon too.
He added: "Getting a full kit of football strips for free is just amazing.
"The kids were thrilled with the new kit and winning the cash for new sports equipment is a massive bonus too.
"We have up to 30 kids training every week and we make sure that every child gets a chance to play for the school team."
Team Captain Tyler Peat, 11, who is signed for Rangers FC under-12s, added: "It’s brilliant – we needed new kit and it’s very colourful.
"It makes you feel good when you put it on."
newmains primary
Wishaw, North Lanarkshire
newmains'
goal celebration
^
^
TEAM manager Darran Telford looks after the girls Under-14s team at the club – and says the new kit has given them all a real boost.
They train twice a week and play matches on Saturdays.
"The strip has really helped us out and made a massive difference financially.
"The girls were so excited when they found out – it gave them a boost knowing that they can win stuff.
"For me grassroots is not just about the football – it’s about making sure the girls enjoy it, and it’s about community too."
Team player Charlotte Wilson, 11, added: "I’m so happy that we have new kit.
"Our old one was getting too small for us, and it was all different colours.
"Now we all look the same in our brand new kit, so it’s really helped us a lot."
ardrossan winton rovers
Ardrossan, North Ayrshire
ardrossan's
goal celebration
^
^
BEN Boatman has coached his local community football team for two years and is delighted that the boys finally have a matching strip to play in.
The 12-strong team play seven-aside league games on Sundays and train twice a week but have always had to play matches in their training tops.
Now – thanks to our brilliant Kits for Kids giveaway – they look the business in their brand new strip of shorts, tops and socks.
Ben said: “It’s absolutely fantastic for the boys.
"They’ve been playing games in their training kit, so it’s great to see them all wearing the same kit now – it gives them a real sense of unity.
"They were absolutely buzzing when I told them."
His nine-year-old son, Rory, who plays left back or centre for the team, added: "Having a new kit makes me feel really, really happy, so thank you so much.
"The kit is great, good colours and the shorts and socks are really good too."
DALKEITH THISTLE CFC
Dalkeith, Midlothian
dalkeith's
goal celebration
^
^
NATIONAL team hero Lisa Evans has backed our Free Footie Kits for Kids campaign and hopes it inspires talented footballers of the future.
Lisa, 32, loves seeing youngsters take up the sport and hates to think cash problems might rob them of a chance to play.
After stints with sides including Bayern Munich and Arsenal, the Scotland midfielder, from Perth, returned home to re-sign with Glasgow City recently and wants to ensure equal opportunities for all children in the community.
She said: "Putting your kit on makes you feel like you’re part of a team.
"Kits for Kids is an amazing initiative because it makes people feel like they’re a part of something.
"Everything has become so much more expensive in football, whether it’s boots, equipment or pitches and you’d hate to think that some kids don’t have the same opportunities as others because of that."
She added: "We need to do whatever we can to make sure kids don’t miss out on the enjoyment of football."
TEAM KITS ARE PITCH PERFECT
Jenny Stephenson, Divisional Chair for Scotland, said: "Specsavers is proud to have once again supported the Free Footy Kits for Kids campaign. With a great response, the initiative has highlighted just how vital grassroots football is in Scotland.
"Our long-standing commitment to Scottish football, including more than 24 years of sponsorship of Scotland's match officials and more recently the men and women’s National Teams, has only strengthened our desire to give back to the community.
"Partnering with the Scottish Sun on this initiative has allowed us to help young people get active, learn valuable life skills, and most importantly, have fun playing the beautiful game.
"The Free Footie Kits for Kids initiative will make a positive impact on local football groups across Scotland, and Specsavers looks forward to seeing even more young players thrive in the future."
This time round, we had kits to hand out to 150 community sides – and all the teams had to do was upload a video of their best goal celebration.
The squads have each received a set of seven strips, complete with shorts, top and socks, and including a goalie kit, worth more than £300.
And one lucky team – Claremont AFC, of East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire – also scooped a bumper prize of £250 to go towards new equipment after submitting the best celebration vid.
Meanwhile, the nine runners up won £100 each. Here, we talk to four teams who are thrilled to have landed a new kit.
DEDICATED coach Jonny Holden sees the benefits of grassroots football first hand – and is thrilled that his team have brand new kit to play in Jonny, who has coached Claremont AFC for four years, said: "Grassroots football is a great way to get boys outside, exercising in the fresh air and making new friends.
"Sometimes they come to training with their heads down but once they’ve had a ball at their feet for a bit, there’s a smile on their faces again.
"We’re a community team and we keep the costs as low as possible so that any child in the community can play – it’s all about bringing the boys together.
"Kits for Kids means they all have matching kits, and we’ve not had to ask their parents to chip in for it, which is great.
"Wearing matching gear gives them a sense of pride and togetherness."
The team – who also scooped £250 to spend on sports equipment with their brilliant celebration video – trains twice a week and play matches on a Saturday morning.
CLAREMONT's
goal celebration
^
^
^
DEDICATED coach Jonny Holden sees the benefits of grassroots football first hand – and is thrilled that his team have brand new kit to play in Jonny, who has coached Claremont AFC for four years, said: "Grassroots football is a great way to get boys outside, exercising in the fresh air and making new friends.
"Sometimes they come to training with their heads down but once they’ve had a ball at their feet for a bit, there’s a smile on their faces again.
"We’re a community team and we keep the costs as low as possible so that any child in the community can play – it’s all about bringing the boys together.
"Kits for Kids means they all have matching kits, and we’ve not had to ask their parents to chip in for it, which is great.
"Wearing matching gear gives them a sense of pride and togetherness."
The team – who also scooped £250 to spend on sports equipment with their brilliant celebration video – trains twice a week and play matches on a Saturday morning.
Jonny’ son, Harrison, eight, is Team Captain. Harrison added: "It felt great when we got the new kit – we were all cheering.
"The new kit will help us play even better and we’d like to buy new goals, footballs and hurdles with the prize money we won."
claremont fc
East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire
CLAREMONT's
goal celebration
^
^
^
COACH Paul McArthur has run the school’s team for more than 16 years - and says the kids are over the moon with their new kit.
The janitor, who is also a former Queens Park striker, is delighted with our free Kits for Kits and said the kids are over the moon too.
He added: "Getting a full kit of football strips for free is just amazing.
"The kids were thrilled with the new kit and winning the cash for new sports equipment is a massive bonus too.
"We have up to 30 kids training every week and we make sure that every child gets a chance to play for the school team."
Team Captain Tyler Peat, 11, who is signed for Rangers FC under-12s, added: "It’s brilliant – we needed new kit and it’s very colourful.
"It makes you feel good when you put it on."
NEWMAINS PRIMARY
WISHAW, NORTH LANARKSHIRE
NEWMAINS'
goal celebration
^
^
^
TEAM manager Darran Telford looks after the girls Under-14s team at the club – and says the new kit has given them all a real boost.
They train twice a week and play matches on Saturdays.
"The strip has really helped us out and made a massive difference financially.
"The girls were so excited when they found out – it gave them a boost knowing that they can win stuff.
"For me grassroots is not just about the football – it’s about making sure the girls enjoy it, and it’s about community too."
Team player Charlotte Wilson, 11, added: "I’m so happy that we have new kit.
"Our old one was getting too small for us, and it was all different colours.
"Now we all look the same in our brand new kit, so it’s really helped us a lot."
ARDROSSAN WINTON ROVERS
Ardrossan, North Ayrshire
ARDROSSAN'S
goal celebration
^
^
^
DALKEITH
THISTLE CFC
His nine-year-old son, Rory, who plays left back or centre for the team, added: "Having a new kit makes me feel really, really happy, so thank you so much.
"The kit is great, good colours and the shorts and socks are really good too."
NATIONAL team hero Lisa Evans has backed our Free Footie Kits for Kids campaign and hopes it inspires talented footballers of the future.
Lisa, 32, loves seeing youngsters take up the sport and hates to think cash problems might rob them of a chance to play.
After stints with sides including Bayern Munich and Arsenal, the Scotland midfielder, from Perth, returned home to re-sign with Glasgow City recently and wants to ensure equal opportunities for all children in the community.
CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SPECSAVERS' WORK IN THE COMMUNITY OR TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT
DALKEITH, MIDLOTHIAN