Orphan football fans in Uganda who have waited two years for the delivery of a set of donated strips have finally received them – thanks to the generous spirit of a Moray bakery boss.
When Maclean’s Highland Bakery’s managing director Lewis Maclean learned of the difficulty shipping the football tops, he stepped-in to ensure their transportation from Belfast to Africa.
Mr Maclean said he was chuffed to get involved with the project to kit out the young football players abroad.
“It was about six weeks ago that I saw a picture on Twitter of some orphans playing football in Uganda, wearing what can only be described as rags,” he said.
“The picture was accompanied by the question “Can you help?” to which I replied “how can I help?”.
“It seems that football fans from across Northern Ireland and central Scotland had been donating football shirts, shorts and socks, boots and equipment over a period of time.
“Due to a combination of circumstances, however, 35 boxes of kit had gathered in the basement of a social club in Belfast, with no way of getting them to Uganda.
“That is where I got involved.”
Mr Maclean said he’d first determined to drive over to Belfast in one of the bakery’s own vans to collect the kit – only to rethink once he looked at the expense.
Instead, he contacted wholesaler Andrew Ingredients and asked if they would consider collecting the pallet of kit and meet him Glasgow.
“They agreed there and then and even offered to deliver to Forres,” Mr Maclean said.
“I was absolutely stunned by their generosity. Within four days the kit was collected and delivered to our bakery.
“Because of the time it was going to take to get the kit to Africa, I decided to send two large boxes by DHL directly to the orphanage.
“They have been waiting two years for this stuff to arrive.
“We have sent enough to dress two full teams – one senior and one junior team.
“We were a few items short so I put out a call locally and received the missing bits I needed, including goalkeeper’s tops and gloves.
The youngsters have now received the strips – and sent pictures back to Mr Maclean and all those involved in collecting the kit over time.
Maclean’s Highland Bakery has been in Forres for 40 years, creating bread, pies and pastries.