Club news

Bid For The First Signed Home And Away Shirts

By Alex Stedman • 20 July 2018

Albion in the Community is auctioning the first signed 2018/19 home and away Nike shirts. The shirts are the first to be signed by the squad ahead of the start of the new 2018/19 season. 

With members of AITC’s national league senior squads, Connor Cruise, Callum Budd, Carl Philips and Freddie Strachan all featuring in this season’s kit launch, the money raised will go on to help fund local football sessions for people with a disability across Sussex. 

AITC now runs more than 30 regular football sessions for people with a disability, including a number of disability-specific sessions.

AITC’s sessions are attended by upwards of 300 people every fortnight and include one for people with autism, another for junior players who have cerebral palsy or who use a frame, and one for players with Down’s syndrome. 

The club’s official charity also runs four teams that play in national disability-specific leagues. Brighton & Hove Albion Amputee FC, Brighton & Hove Albion Cerebral Palsy FC, Brighton & Hove Albion Deaf FC, and Brighton & Hove Albion Powerchair FC will all wear the same kit as the club’s Premier League and FA Women’s Super League squads throughout the 2018/19 season.

AITC’s sessions for people with a disability cost between £1,800 and £5,000 a year to run, and the money raised by the online auction will help the charity continue its award-winning work.

Matt Dorn, chief executive officer at AITC, said, “Our players were absolutely delighted to be included in the kit launch and the fact that the charity is now going to benefit from the auction of the first two signed shirts really is the icing on the cake.” 

The auction is now live and runs for two weeks.

Fans can bid online here.

For more information on AITC’s sessions, email: disability@albioninthecommunity.org.uk.