A Harpenden sports shop has donated boots to a Harpenden Ladies Rugby player after hers were stolen.
Lisa Harland’s boots were in her car when it was stolen from Hemel Hempstead, where she lives.
It came around the same time as her best friend died, and her dog was put down.
Team captain Sammy Cooper said: “It was not a particularly good few weeks for her, and the team realised she was having a bad time, so we got her a voucher.”
One of the players also emailed around, explaining what had happened and asking for help.
Graeme Hacking, owner of Good Sports on Leyton Road, heard what had happened and came forward.
He kept the store open later and invited Lisa to come and try pairs on.
Lisa was given three pairs to try on, and she found a pair which fit.
Sammy said: “It’s amazing. My faith in humanity has been restored.”
Graeme said: “I think as an independent local business it’s important we need help from the local community getting people through the door.
“It’s about trying to get yourself cemented into the local community, which is difficult.”
Good Sports supplies a range of equipment for activities such as football, swimming, and squash.
It also offers discounts to local clubs.
“We need to make it easy for people to use us by giving them some sort of benefit for using us.
“The perception of local shops is they are expensive, so we try to break that mould.”
Harpenden Ladies Rugby is open to players of all ages and ability, and they are always recruiting.
Lisa joined in February this year, having not played for several years.
Sammy said: “She used to play for Hemel Hempstead before she stopped. But she wanted to start again because she missed it and wanted to get fit.
“She’s since lost seven stone and it’s turned her life around.”
The youngest player at Harpenden Ladies is 19, and the oldest is 55.
Some of the players had never played before, and some have been doing so for 30 years,
Anyone who is interested can contact them via Twitter @HarpendenLRUFC, or just turn up at 7.30PM on Wednesdays.
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