THE Bradford City Community Foundation and England superstar Cole Palmer have teamed up for an exciting new initiative which will see children across the district receive free football boots.

Cif's (cleaning brand) 'Re-Kicks' initiative is now in full swing as restored football boots are being provided to the children that need them most, creating new opportunities for the next generation of players in Bradford.

After a successful collection period, in August, which saw over 750 pairs of boots donated by football fanatics across the nation, the restored kicks are now being re-distributed amongst young people at Bradford City Community Foundation.

The Re-Kicks initiative is fronted by one of England football’s brightest stars, Cole Palmer. Growing up in one of Manchester’s most deprived areas, Palmer wants to help alleviate the various challenges faced by budding players and inspire them to fall in love with the beautiful game.

The success of the project so far has made this a reality, with hundreds of boots already finding new homes across Bradford.

A moving case study from Bradford City FC Community Foundation revealed that when a young person visited their Foundation food bank and told the organisers that he was an aspiring football player but could not afford any boots, he was able to take home a revamped pair of boots donated via the project.

Palmer, Chelsea and England footballer, says: “Growing up I saw how the cost to play football was a big problem for families and in some cases, not a reality. That’s why the Re-Kicks initiative is so important to me. By helping to keep young people involved in the sport, I hope to inspire them to keep chasing their dreams on and off the pitch."

The increasingly large price tag attached to sportswear can create an obstacle for hopeful players, particularly as children are constantly out-growing clothes and shoes.

Bradleigh Pioli, Head of Events and Commercial at Bradford City FC Community Foundation, says: “We’ve been wanting to run an initiative like Cif Re-Kicks for a while now. We see many young people in Bradford unable to get involved in various sports due to financial hardship, so this project will help kids on the journey to their footballing dreams.”