The Club is delighted to announce that Smiths Carpets and Flooring are to become the official sponsor of the We Wear (WWtSS) the Same Shirt side as they provide them with brand new t-shirts to wear to games. The team can now dress like a team before and after matches as well as during them. The team are also hoping that by representing and promoting the team with these new tops, they might encourage new members to join their local WWtSS side.
Emily Edwards, was the person who had the original idea decided it would be good for the group to get some t-shirts to wear to the games.
Initially, the WWtSS players were going to purchase their own shirts but with such a worthy, local project, it wasn’t long until a sponsor was found. Smith’s Carpets and Flooring are regular contributors to local community projects and, when approached about supporting the WWtSS side, company owners Lisa and Dale Blakeman immediately showed interest in getting involved. They were soon meeting with Emily and Sticky Ink Printers to get the t-shirts designed and created.
About We Wear the Same Shirt
WWtSS is a nationwide programme to support people living with Mental Health issues and give everyone an opportunity to play football. The FAW ran a WWtSS tournament in the summer – held at Dragon park in Newport – in which 10 teams competed. County A were victorious in the plate final picking up a trophy after defeating the B team on penalties.
County in the Community’s We Wear the Same Shirt programme had humble beginnings. In fact, only Emily and County supporter Martin Perry showed up to the first ever training session and so she ended up taking on Head of Community Norman Parselle in a crossbar challenge. Naturally, Emily came out victorious!
Emily has seen the programme grow so much since that first session 16 months ago and there are now 16 regular players with some sessions reaching over 20 participants.
Emily said: “The programme has brought me confidence and to believe in myself to the point that I can now coach some of the sessions that are sometimes attended by about 20 people”
Newport County AFC WWtSS vs Swindon Town WWtSS
The County WWtSS side will be showing off their new shirts on Saturday as they travel to Swindon Town to take on the The Robins’ WWtSS team.
The Clubs’ WWtSS sides have a good relationship having played one another several times last season in friendlies. Saturday will see the Clubs take this one step further with the sides to play each other again at the [venue] kick off at [time] before enjoying the first team match which kicks off at the County Ground at 3pm.
Everyone at the Club, Community and the WWtSS team would like to thank Lisa, Dale and everyone at Smith’s Carpets and Flooring for their generosity.
If you’re attending the match on Saturday, make sure you also look out for the fantastic Walking Football team who will be playing a match against Swindon’s walking football side at half time.