On my last two trips to Kenya I spent time with the boys who play football in my grandparents’ village, Getuya. What I saw stayed with me. Boys of all ages, pure passion for the game but very little opportunity. One captain was wearing a hi-vis vest as a “kit” and many were playing barefoot or in sandals. The pitch is an unmarked, uneven dirt pitch with wooden sticks for goalposts.

Here in the UK we take so much for granted. Out there, they just get on with it and play because they love the game. It made me want to do more than just bring a few boots on my next visit. I want to build something lasting. That’s how the idea for Getuya FC was born: a proper club for the village, a place for the community to come together and a team we can grow through the Kenyan divisions.

So what’s this fundraiser for? We’ve got a team assembled and a coach lined up (Coach Japhet). But we need kits, boots, balls, bibs, league registration, first aid equipment, somewhere secure to store it all, some work on the pitch itself and funds to pay the coach.

I’ll keep you posted with updates and match results as we go.

Every contribution goes directly to giving these kids a real club to belong to. If you’ve ever wanted to be part of something from day one, this is your chance. Thank you for helping turn Getuya FC from an idea into a team. (Also thanks for reading this far… you might as well donate init)