A thoughtful Edinburgh dad with a big heart has made it his goal to ensure that young people across the capital have access to football boots if they need them.
Sean Mearns, who is a coach for his son’s 2014 Edinburgh City side, said that he became aware that some parents at the club were unable to afford boots for their continuously growing kids. This led to him raking through the cupboards at his own home and giving a spare pair to a young player in need.
The 38-year-old said that he realised that they had four or five pairs of boots that could go to a new home. Sean says that as a parent he knows how quickly young lads and lassies can grow which can make life difficult for parents having to buy new boots that can cost £100 every six months.
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As a result of this, the Scottish Water worker was sitting in his van after work one night, where he decided to create a plan to build a boot bank in the capital that would take donations of new and old football boots that could be distributed to players who needed them.
Admittedly the plan is in its infancy, Sean says that he hopes to bring the beautiful game back to the working class communities it used to represent by making sure that no kid is denied the ability to play through not having boots that fit them.
On his quest, he said: “I coach the 2014 team for Edinburgh City and we had a laddie that needed boots. He had grown out of his old ones and due to the cost of living crisis was unable to afford a new pair - from chatting to other parents I realised that this problem was quite prevalent.
“Luckily he was sizes with my laddie and so I could give him a pair. Then we realised we had four or five more spare and thought there must be more people out there in the same position.
“I was sitting in my van after work and thought I should start asking for donations - whether boots or cash - to try to build up a bank for anyone who needed them. I’ve been really lucky with the response with a load of people asking to help out.
“We have even had ex-Hearts keeper Jamie MacDonald offering a hand. I’ve had some folk drop them off at my house and others have asked for me to collect them - at the moment we have around 40 boots.
“I want to get as many sizes as we can to cover as many age groups as possible. We had a teen who was a size nine the other day pick up a pair of boots so if you have any spare then do get in touch.”
Sean has set up a production line with his two sons Robbie, 8 and Luke, 2, who work together to get the boots cleaned up for their new home. He says that the response has been nothing short of amazing but admits that he has no idea how large the project will grow.
Sean continued: “We have had people from as far out as Gorebridge wanting to get involved. I think those that have played football know how expensive boots and strips can be.
“Football was always for the working man and the normal people but sadly it is getting away from that with how expensive everything is. It is our national sport and it is a bloody good one.
“I’ve had boys in our team who started off mute and within two years they are running around telling jokes and being instigators in the dressing room. The sport should be for everybody whether you have money or not.
“The way we can recycle boots is also amazing. A family we know have three boys and they cannot afford new boots for all of them, so we just ask for their old ones and swap them new pairs that will fit.
“I've yet to come across a pair of boots sent into me that won’t do anyone. Due to how quickly kids grow you do not get the full use out of them. It is a really relatable scheme.
“We had one dad say that he thought it was amazing as when he was a kid he was always the one who had to borrow a pair or get boots off the school. Ex-pros and the Hearts Ultras are also getting onboard which is fantastic to see.
“Who knows how far we can go or if it fizzles out but my goal is to create a bank of boots so that no young person has to go without.”
If you would like to get involved and donate boots or money for the cause then contact Sean on 07879567599.
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