Rochdale Football Club transforms old football kits into furniture while supporting vulnerable community members through innovative workshops.

Rochdale Football Club, based in Greater Manchester, is pushing the boundaries of sustainability through an innovative upcycling initiative that repurposes old football kits into vibrant furniture. This project has not only contributed to the club’s position in the Green Football Cup, where they currently sit seventh nationally, but it has also made a notable impact on the local community, particularly among vulnerable individuals.

The Green Football Cup is part of the ‘Great Save’ campaign led by Green Football, which encourages clubs and individuals to donate, sell, reuse, or upcycle sports gear to prevent it from ending up in landfills. It is estimated that about 100,000 tonnes of sports kit each year are discarded as waste.

Scott Webster, the education and employability program manager at Rochdale’s community trust, spearheaded the initiative. “We’re going into Europe!” he joked, highlighting the unexpected success of their efforts. He conducts workshops every Monday, teaching attendees how to creatively utilize everyday items that might otherwise be discarded. A key element of the project involves upholstering chairs with old football shirts, as well as covering chair frames with pieces of ripped match programs adhered with wallpaper paste, transforming them into unique functional art pieces.

The initiative is particularly aimed at supporting neurodiverse individuals and young people in care or the criminal justice system. Webster noted that the workshops have fostered a change in mindset among the young participants. “If you plant the seed with a young learner, they will then stamp their feet and say: ‘I don’t want that [thrown away]. You’re not throwing that football shirt away, I’m saving that one,’” he explained.

Through this project, participants are equipped with skills that may enhance their daily lives, enabling them to find enjoyment and empowerment in the creative process. Webster emphasized the project’s positive influence, stating, “There’s so many learners out there that struggle with everyday life. If you’re putting something like this on and it’s enjoyable and it’s fun and it’s vibrant, they’re going to come and do it.”

The converted corporate box at the Crown Oil Arena, where the upcycled chairs will be placed, is being developed into a colorful and inviting space designated for neurodiverse individuals. The chairs are expected to be set up in time for Rochdale’s match against Aldershot on Saturday.

In conjunction with the match, the club will organize events on the same day, including a workshop for children to learn how to make pillowcases from old football shirts and an exhibition titled “Aldershirt,” which features classic kits.

Source: Noah Wire Services