Footballers score league place with builder's cash

An all abilities football team looking to keep its place in the league has scored new kit with a £1,000 donation.

Persimmon Homes South West has made the donation to Barnstaple Abilities Football Club through its hugely successful Community Champions campaign and it means they will be allowed to keep their place in Devon Ability Court Football League.

Maggie Birchmore, for the club, said: “We are the only disabled football club in the south west and have 55 players aged from six up. We cater for all disabilities and train every week ahead of our monthly match days once a month.

“We have been awarded Chartermark status by the Football Association and are a successful club but we have to have an official kit to be allowed to compete in the league. This generous donation from the Community Champions fund will allow us to provide that for our players.”

Nina Hester, sales and marketing director at Persimmon Homes South West, said: “We’re delighted to hand over this grant to help fund the official kit for the squad and wish them continued success in their league and cup matches.

“As a company we have enjoyed huge success over the last few years, and it’s great to be able to give something back to the communities in which we are working.

“Our Community Champions campaign is still running, and we’d welcome more applications via our website, www.persimmonhomes.com/charity.”

Each month the builder donates up to £2,000 to community groups across the south west.

This also happens across Persimmon’s other 29 operating areas, meaning up to £60,000 is dished out every single month – a total of £720,000 a year, and more than £2million since the scheme started back in 2015.