While headlines often focus on the eye-watering wages modern day footballers appear to earn I think it's important not to lose sight of the great health and social benefits football offers to those societies less fortunate than our own.
For many years I have been visiting St Lucia and despite the tourist veneer of an exotic Caribbean island there are areas of real poverty where football and local clubs offer a sanctuary to some extremely challenging social problems. In particular participation by girls in the sport has rocketed with their under 17's achieving the highest place English-speaking team in a recent Caribbean tournament.
A not uncommon story is where brothers will share one pair of boots between them. Equipment and footballs are in short supply as well as being expensive to import. However, we have an agreement that any sports wear and equipment we ship over will not have import duties levied. And so I am looking to receive any new or unused football kit, footballs and equipment from clubs and/or individuals in the Merseyside area which I intend to ship out by way of a barrel(s).