Charity football shirt amnesty at Harpenden pub

MOST pubs would deny taking the shirts off their customers backs – but a Harpenden hostelry is proud of it. The George in the High Street has come up with a footie-focused initiative which aims to be a high scorer for disadvantaged children in the UK and

MOST pubs would deny taking the shirts off their customers' backs - but a Harpenden hostelry is proud of it.

The George in the High Street has come up with a footie-focused initiative which aims to be a high scorer for disadvantaged children in the UK and South Africa by providing them with fantastic football facilities.

The pub is blowing the starting whistle with a Shirt Amnesty, asking fans to dig out their unwanted football shirts - especially children's ones - to donate at the pub. They will be taken directly to disadvantaged youngsters at the Ukhanyo School in Masiphumelele in South Africa.

The George also wants to raise enough cash to build a new sports ground at the school and kit it out with special tough footballs suitable for the African terrain so the children are ready for the World Cup kick off.

Pub manager Dionne Clark said: "We're footie mad at the George so what better way to raise funds for our latest charity drive than through our biggest passion.

"Knowing how much our customers love their football, we're sure there's going to be no shortage of old shirts coming out of the closet for the Shirt Amnesty."

The charity campaign is called Project Fair Play and Dionne said it was set to make the World Cup even more special for everyone at the pub.