A former Dumbarton and St Mirren footballer has started a boot appeal in the Vale to try and combat the rising costs for kids to play football in the cost-of-living crisis.
Ex-pro Graeme Ramage, 29, from Alexandria, runs the Graeme Ramage Football Academy, which offers one-to-ones and small-grouped sessions to kids aged five and over.
As a way to help struggling families deal with the cost of youth football, Graeme has started a boot appeal, where people can donate their old boots or swap them for bigger sizes to ease the financial burden for families.
It is not just football boots that can be donated or swapped but also goalkeeper gloves and shinguards.
Graeme spoke on why the appeal is so vital. He said: “With the rising costs in everything, football boots are one of the dearest things for kids, so I thought it would be a good idea to help out others.
“It has gone a bit quiet lately, and with the current situation of the cost-of-living crisis, I thought it would be good to launch another appeal.
“Football boots aren’t a priority for some people because they do have other worries. But others do make it a priority, and they may have to cut back on food that week. So for us to offer this appeal is helping both sides.
“We have about 120 kids coming through our doors, and it is vital to help many keep playing.
“You’re talking about £80 for boots, and even your cheaper ones are about £40.
“We do have kids coming in with trainers to play, and you know their families are skinning themselves just so they can play, but they don’t have the equipment to play. That’s why we do it.”
Donations can be made to the Graeme Ramage Football Academy at Goalzone in the Vale of Leven Industrial Estate between 3.30pm to 10.30pm from Monday to Friday.
