TWO businessmen are teaming up and asking people to donate football shirts to give to some of Brazil’s poorest youngsters.

Alan Jones — father of McFly singer Danny Jones — is running the scheme at his pub, The Jolly Crofters in Horwich.

He has joined forces with Dean Cocozza, who runs a barber shop in Bolton town centre, and so far the two have amassed more than 140 shirts.

The collection will end on April 15, when the tops will be sent to young people living in poverty in Brazilian slums, known locally as favelas.

Mr Jones, aged 61, who took over the pub in Chorley Old Road at the start of the year, said: “We did this last year at a pub we were running in Merseyside and it was great, so we are really pleased to be sending more shirts to Brazil.

“People have been really generous so far and quite a few have dropped shirts off on their way to watch Wanderers — there are going to be a lot of Brazilians in Bolton shirts.

“Dean has been great and donated loads of shirts to really get things going — I have known him for a while and he is always up for helping charities.”

Mr Jones, originally from Great Lever, revealed that his rock star son, who is a keen footballer, will also be handing over a shirt or two.

He added: “Yes I will definitely be tapping-up Danny for some shirts, he is a big football fan and even represented England in a charity match.”

Dean Cocozza has been running his barber shop in Deansgate for 20 years and during that time has been involved in numerous charity projects, including several shirt collections.

He said: “Two of my children go to Walmsley school so I asked the kids there to donate and they came up with 120 shirts, which was brilliant.

“People have been dropping them off at my business as well, and I will be collecting them here up until the deadline.”

The Orchid pub group, of which the Jolly Crofters is a member, is running the scheme, called “Project Fair Play” at their pubs and restaurants throughout the UK.

Back in 2010, the project sent 20,000 football shirts to South Africa townships, ahead of the World Cup being held in the country.

The 2014 competition will take place in Brazil later this year.

Project Fair Play will also benefit a British project as some of the shirts donated will be recycled for cash, which will raise funds for the Wheelchair Football Association.

For more details visit projectfairplay.org.uk