Football kit donation project Kitback launched in Glasgow

Glasgow Times

28-04-2025

Street Soccer Scotland's 'Kitback' campaign, launched today (Monday, April 28), is looking for people to swap their cash donations for old football kits.
The charity's founder, David Duke, from Govan, said: 'Glasgow's got such a rich footballing history, and every fan probably has old football tops or shorts gathering dust in a cupboard.
'Every kit has a story and heritage behind it, and we don't want to see them go to a dump and go in the landfill.
'With 'Kitback', we're looking to give these strips a new lease of life, and either be used by one of the players on our teams or sold to raise vital funds to help them – if you give us a shirt, then we can turn it into a donation.
(Image: Jeff Holmes) 'It saves them from going to waste and is better for the environment, so it's very much a win-win, you can protect the planet and help people at the same time.
'Times are tough just now, and this is a way we can ask people to help those in need without spending any money.
'It's about 'old strips with new goals', and is more than just a campaign; it's a movement that brings together our shared passion for football and our collective commitment to helping our local communities."
Football shirts have risen in popularity in recent years, becoming both a fashion statement and a fan's matchday staple.
Street Soccer is looking to cash in on the trend with some tops being sold online for hundreds of pounds.
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Kitback will have donated shirts for sale, and says that buying from them helps people while adding a new kit to your collection.
David shared his enthusiasm for having a good show of shirts from his hometown: 'I'd love to see us get shirts from all over the city, from Partick Thistle to Pollok and Rangers to Celtic, I'd love to see loads of kits from Glasgow.'
English Premier League team Fulham FC have donated full strips, and Street Soccer hopes to see more clubs get involved.
The charity was started in 2009 by David, who was homeless for three years and played for Scotland in the Homeless World Cup.
He then worked in the homeless sector, helping those in need, and launched the charity to provide others with the benefits he gained from football.
(Image: Jeff Holmes) David explained: 'I wanted to create something to offer other people what I got from football.
'It gives you community without judgement, a pillar of support, and people you can rely on for those who feel isolated or are going through a difficult time.
'People need to feel hope, and living in this environment means people are faced with a lack of it.
'Football, being part of a team, offers that hope and a sense of belief and community they need.
"They also get access to other support services through us so that we can help them without expectations, only reassurance that we are here to inspire them to be all they can be.'
(Image: Jeff Holmes) Street Soccer started with a drop-in session in Townhead in the city centre and has now expanded to 63 projects running every week.
The charity has helped over 25,000 people since it was launched 16 years ago.
David said that demands on their services are increasing all the time, and cuts to funding mean they're looking to raise funds in different ways.
To get involved and donate your old tops, visit www.kitback.org.uk