Our next charity is Ballaboots (Charity 1282), which was formed in 2018 by Ballakermeen PE teacher Furo Davies to send used football kit to aspiring players in Africa.

Helped by Mr Davies’s tutor group, the charity has grown year on year and now regularly sends football boots and other kit that has been donated by children and clubs across the island to West Africa.

We spoke to the FC Isle of Man striker about why he formed the initiative and his hopes for the future of the charity.

Who are you / What do you do?

BallaBoots is a charity based on the Isle of Man that predominantly collect used and pre/loved football boots, kit and equipment and send them to less privileged sports teams and schools in Nigeria and West Africa.

Why/When did you form?

I used to live and play football in Nigeria when I was younger and experienced some of the struggles that aspiring football players face.

I also saw how football can bring hope to kids who have very few opportunities in the less developed parts of Nigeria and understand how not having suitable boots or equipment can lead to children abandoning football and getting into crime.

And it puts a smile on people’s faces, so why not.

BallaBoots was formed in my tutor group at Ballakermeen, where we came up with the idea of gathering boots from around the school and it has built from there, with a lot of help from the kids at school.

What has been your biggest achievement or proudest moment since forming?

Our biggest achievement has been sending more than 500 pairs of boots and 20 different full kits to rural places in Nigeria and The Gambia.

We also managed to get a mention from John Barnes which was pretty special.

Our aim is also not to just send boots over, but to create a sense of connection between the island and West Africa, and through education inform people of what it is like for young people in these regions.

BallaBoots was started in school and the students in Ballakermeen are very much involved in the process.

What is your biggest ambition/goal for the future?

I feel we have only scratched the surface in terms of our reach of gathering donations and so would like to start to send even more boots, balls, cones, bibs, kits etc, as they are so well received.

One of our short-term plans is to go over with the boots and make a documentary about the difference the boots make to people and also show, in-depth, what it is like to grow up and play football in Nigeria.

In our longer-term plans, we would like to be in a position to set up a sports school/academy with adequate educational and sporting facilities and to give better opportunities to talented aspiring sports players.

How can people get involved?

People can get involved firstly by digging out their old football boots and any old kit or equipment they don’t use and dropping it off either at Ballakermeen High School reception or at the Bowl stadium in Douglas.

Secondly, if anyone is interested in sponsoring any of the above projects, they can get in contact via email at [email protected] or by phone on 07624396116.

Where can people find you and where can they donate?

For pictures, videos and general information, like the Facebook page @BallaBoots

l If you would like to see your charity featured, please email [email protected]