Do you mind if I find a way of getting these kits to Africa?

It was 2011 and Ricky Weir, the current Jersey FA President at the time, faced a dilemma. The Association were about to change sponsors (from Umbro to Nike) and Ricky wanted to usefully purpose the surplus kits, so asked his fellow board members “Do you mind if I find a way of getting these kits to Africa?” A couple of days later Ricky randomly noticed a phone number for ‘The Nairobi Slums Trust’. He thought well Nairobi is in Africa let’s see where this leads. On the other end was Paul Bell for whom Ricky had played football some 20 years previously. Ricky offered the kits to Paul and he also indicated that he would like to visit Paul’s project in Nairobi, which he duly did some months later in November 2012.

On his first day Ricky was invited to visit the local football field, which he duly did. Arriving at the field, he was humbled and shocked by the feel, look and smell of poverty surrounding him, whilst being greeted by smiling and inquisitive faces of over 100 young boys and girls. He watched them play a match and was asked to offer some coaching insights. He duly obliged and soon found himself organising an impromptu coaching session to demonstrate his points. The onlooking coaches somewhat in awe then asked in unison, “Sir, Mr Ricky, please will you coach us?”After listening and setting some ground rules, Ricky agreed and spent the rest of his trip coaching upwards of 300 young boys and girls. Exhausted but suitably inspired Ricky headed home to Jersey and by the time he landed decided that he could do more, utilising his football knowledge, experience and passion and his Jersey based football and business contacts he could ‘Make a Difference’.

Jersey 2 Africa 4 Football was the name that came to him and six weeks later on 18 January 2013 it was officially formed.