Clubs Gearing Up To Ditch Their Home Shirt To Support #NoHomeKit

By Tom Scott

National League clubs are gearing up to ditch their home shirts for the festive period in support of Shelter’s #NoHomeKit campaign.

The pandemic has reiterated the importance of a safe place to call home like never before – yet despite this over 180,000 households have been made homeless since March 2020.

The National League and Shelter believe home is something that football understands.

Whether you are in the stands or watching on television, that sense of identity, belonging and community is what home gives you.

In the space of one 90-minute game, 25 households will become homeless. Many of them will be families with children.

That is why National League clubs in all three leagues will be wearing an away or third kit for their festive fixtures.

It might feel a bit strange cheering on your beloved Dover in purple or Kidderminster Harriers in blue, but rest assured you will be playing a part in a powerful act of solidarity and support for those who don’t have a safe place to call home.

Dulwich Hamlet have designed a special one-off kit that will be worn for their festive fixtures – before auctioning them off to raise money for Shelter.

Pundit and former footballer Chris Kamara has backed the campaign. He said: “I got involved in this campaign after hearing some of the harrowing statistics concerning homelessness in this country - such as there being over 400 households made homeless every day.

"Something needs to change and I'm hoping this campaign can be the start of that.”

Osama Bhutta, director of campaigns at Shelter added: "No Home Kit is a simple idea that anyone can get involved with to help make a difference.

“We’re just asking the football community to unite for the Boxing Day round of fixtures by swapping their team’s ‘home’ colours for their away or third kit as a powerful act of solidarity for people without a home.”

If you want to get involved - Text ‘HOME’ to 70455 to donate £5 or head to shelter.org.uk/nohomekit for more information.

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