EAST Lancashire's only primary school town team are appealing for sponsors to help them get kitted out.
Darwen Primary Schools Town Team have reformed after a three year absence but do not have enough kit for the whole squad.
And the team are prepared to take the unique step of getting individual shirt sponsors rather than a team sponsor to help them out of their predicament.
Mike Leighton, deputy headteacher at Holy Trinity, has been involved in the running of the team for the past 30 years.
He said: "The likes of David Dunn and Michael Owen came up through primary school town teams and it is a great opporunity and honour for a young player to play for the town team.
"There was a time when all of the local towns had primary school town teams but now we are the only ones in the area."
He added: "We have a good squad of about 19 players and we have already played a couple of games.
"But at the moment we are paying for everything ourselves so if we could obtain sponsorship or funding it would be a great help."
Paul Bassett, who is helping to raise funds for the team says the boys are currently playing in a strip that reflects badly on the town.
He said: "We only have the bare 11 tops so every time we make a substitution the lads have to swap tops."
He added: "At present they are playing in a kit, which reflects badly on the importance we seem to place on having a town team.
"The boys are representing Darwen Schools and their appearance should reflect the pride we have in our town.
"Consequently, I have taken on the task of trying to obtain sponsorship for a new kit."
The team are hoping to raise enough funds to buy a Blackburn Rovers kit for matches against the likes of Morecambe, Skelmersdale, Crosby, the Wirral and St Helens.
The side has already played against Skelmersdale where they narrowly lost 5-4 and went down 1-0 against Crosby.
While Mr Leighton and Mr Bassett are looking at ways of obtaining funding from Sport England and the English Schools FA, they have also come up with a unique idea of attracting local sponsorship.
Mr Bassett added: "Getting one local company to buy the whole kit would be very expensive and we would not expect one person or company to do that."
The team has come up with the idea that individual companies can sponsor individual players.
Each company or name will be printed or embroidered on a shirt and shorts and they will be presented with a framed photograph of the player in his kit. Mr Bassett added: "The reformation of this team could be a big stepping stone for some of the players.
"And we are endeavouring to give them to best start that we can.
"The purchase of a new kit would at least put them on a level playing field with the other Town teams."
Anyone interested in sponsoring the team can contact Paul Bassett for further details on 01254 702119.
The team has so far received sponsorship from RTE Fabrications,Jennings Accountants, The Kay Group, Controlla Covers, John Lawson Tools and IHDG (Imperial Home Decor Group.
The team will next be in action at Darwen Moorland High School on Saturday, February 2 at 10.30am and the following Saturday at the same venue.
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