A Shropshire hotel has continued its support of local sports and community initiatives by donating a new football kit to the Ercall Colts under-13s football team.
Buckatree Hall Hotel in Wellington provided 16 kits overall and team coach Nick Guy said they were a huge boost for the players.
Electrician and gas engineer Nick, who is 42 and from Donnington, said: “I coach the under-13s and it tends to be with kids around that age you get some who look about 16 and some who look about eight, so it was really hard to find matching kits for them, and without a matching kit they aren’t able to play.”
Mr Guy said the kits came about via the parent of a player on the team who happened to work at the Buckatree.
“He mentioned he worked for the hotel and said that Wayne, the hotel manager, might want to get involved and help the team out,” Mr Guy said. “So we got in touch and it went from there. We couldn’t be more grateful.
“Having a matching kit means the kids play together as a unit, and it’s a great boost for them.”
Mr Guy said the kids love their new kits and have already played several games in them at the club in Wellington.
“To find a local business that’s so community minded and wants to help out was tremendous,” he said.
The Ercall Colts football club was established in Wellington in 1975, and now has over 100 players across different age groups, from five to 16.
Hotel manager Wayne Jenson said the kit is yet another way for the family-run hotel to show its community spirit. It also provided a new bike for the Wrekin Riders BMX club earlier this month.
Mr Jenson said: “Buckatree Hall Hotel has always been community minded, even more so since the Moon family took over in 2010.
“We think it is important that we work with a mixture of groups, and sponsoring the Colts was an easy decision to make.”
The Buckatree sponsored and provided the kits after the hotel’s maintenance manager, Phil Brown, suggested the partnership.
“Phil approached me with the idea a few months ago and we have not looked back.” Mr Jenson said. “Earlier this year we bought a new BMX bike for the Wrekin Riders and this is just another example of us doing our bit to help.”