13-03-2025
Match-worn Wycombe Wanderers shirts donated to two charity shops
Numerous match-worn Wycombe Wanderers kits have been donated to charity shops across the area as part of an anti-waste scheme.
The club along with its foundation, gave the surplus kits to British Salvation Branch in High Wycombe and to the Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care outlet in Flackwell Heath respective.
The Salvation Army in High Wycombe was one of the shops chosen (Image: NQ) They visited both shops on March 11 the goods consisting of home shirts, shorts, training gear and a signed football.
This comes after it was revealed that 100,000 tonnes of sports kits end up in landfills every year, releasing methane, the most toxic greenhouse gas.
This figure is the equivalent of 951 shirts per minute.
The initiative is to save the kits from landfills and to help raise much-needed cash for the chosen charities.
Arindam Bandral, who is the community engagement officer at Wycombe Wanderers, said: 'The club and foundation have paired up to be part of the Green Football Save Great Initiative.
Arindam Bandral (left) and Anne Rarity (right) with two Wycombe shirts (Image: NQ) 'As part of this, we going to save numerous kits from going to landfill.
'In the UK, there are around 100,000 tonnes of kits which go to landfill and get wasted so we want to avoid that.
'This is why we want to give kits to charity shops in the area.
'This is a great initiative and we're very happy to be part of this and am happy to giving them to Rennie Grove Peace Hospice and the Salvation Army.
'When I saw the number, I was shocked.
A signed ball was one of the items donated (Image: NQ) 'I would recommend that people shouldn't throw their kits away – keep them or donate them as they can be used again.'
One of the charity shops they chose was the Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care branch in Flackwell Heath, which has become known in the area for having a strong football shirt hub.
In recent years, undisclosed members of the public have donated numerous Wanderers kits to the shop, which have attracted much attention.
A Saxon Earley shirt was donated (Image: NQ) The most notable instant occurred a couple of days before Wycombe played Peterborough United in the EFL Trophy Final in 2024.
Numerous shirts from years gone by, some of which even included their original tags, were handed in and eventually sold.
Manager Anne Rarity said: 'It's brilliant.
'Rennie Grove Peace will most certainly benefit from this as we have a lot of customers that look out for football kits, and we also have our shop on eBay which will help us generate money for the charity too.
'Charity shops are all about sustainability and recycling.
'We're lucky that we have a good doner base and they would come to us.'
The two pose in Flackwell Heath (Image: NQ)
In addition to this, Wycombe Wanderers have confirmed that between their next home game against Wrexham, to the clash against Stevenage on April 12, fans are recommended to hand in any unwanted pieces of clothing which will go to Kit Aid.
The charity collects unwanted kits and sends them to the most impoverished parts of the world.
