We were thrilled to celebrate another memorable afternoon as the Foundation took centre stage for the Men’s 2024/25 dedicated fixture.
Emblazoned at pride-of-place on the club shirts, thanks to a generous donation from Kindred Group, the official charitable arm of the club was at the heart of Boro’s latest EFL Championship fixture.
Participants from Premier League programmes Primary Stars, Inspires and Kicks, combined with Foundation-specific sessions Active Through Football (breaking barriers for sports participation), In Your Stride (walking football) and Roary’s Academy (aimed at 2–6-year-olds) for a plentiful parade of flag-wavers before kick-off.
One of those involved in the 160-participant walkaround was mascot Finley Atkinson, hand-picked from our Switch It programme for the honour of leading out the team alongside captain Hayden Hackney.
Children from St. Joseph’s Primary, one of our Primary Stars’ partner schools, completed the line-up for the 12.30pm tunnel walkout while pupils from Kader Academy and John Emmerson Batty Primary School, two schools where Foundation staff deliver the Joy of Moving programme, enjoyed half-time penalties in front of the South Stand.
In the stands, participants linked to our Warm Spaces programme (offering comfort and physical activities to members of the community) were the recipients of a kind offer from Tillicoultry Quarries, who donated the use of their hospitality box for 13 individuals.
Elsewhere, each member of the matchday squad was issued a Foundation-branded warm-up and playing shirt with signatures added to the items after the full-time whistle.
Not available for auction at present, the shirts will be utilised later in the season by the Foundation’s Events and Fundraising department. We will let supporters know how these can be obtained via our social media channels.
Thank you to everyone who played a part in making the Men’s Foundation game such a success.
