This inspiring football club, the Chicago Club, was formed to help improve the quality of life of refugees living in Prato in Tuscany, Italy. This small city is hosting and caring for approximately 380 people from west and central Africa.

When they arrive their immediate needs are looked after by the Red Cross and Opera Santa Rita. Traumatised from long journeys in which many suffered inhumanity, beatings, exploitation in slave camps in Niger and Libya and the dangerous sea crossing to Italy, they are the survivors and have nothing except their good characters and hopes for the future.

Though they have a programme to follow of six hours of Italian language lessons per week and some opportunity to do voluntary work for the local council, there is no paid work for the vast majority. Italy has its own economic problems and high youth unemployment. Also the bureaucracy is such that when a local company wants to give work to refugees, rules and regulations inhibit their initiatives. So they have much free time.

Sport is a great way to fill this time. They love the game, it keeps people fit and motivated and helps them to integrate with the local population. Some friendly games have been organised with local teams. Mainly they have played matches against other refugee teams from nearby Calanzano and Firenze. These teams asked if they could be in the Chicago Club. Some are playing barefoot.

I am fundraising with JustGiving for the second time to continue helping the teams to be kitted out with football boots. Also I hope to be able to raise the funds to buy high-vis cycling vests as many cycle to and from practice.

Training bibs, footballs and strips have been donated by friends and Hawick Waverley FC and Think Fitness 4 Less gym both in Hawick, Scotland. The players were so happy to receive all of this unexpected kit, see photo above. I am looking for other clubs who would like to help in this generous way too.

Thank you for reading this.