A BOLTON IT firm has helped to provide a full football kit for members of an Under 7s team in an African village.

Horwich based It solutions firm Imerja provides sponsorship for amateur side Southport Trinity FC and the two have now worked together to send the full team kit, as well as 15 pairs of football boots to the Gambian village of Penyem.

Imerja is a firm which has a history of supporting village projects in Penyem.

Previous projects have seen the firm provide mosquito nets for families and help to establish a new medical centre, including sponsoring a full-time doctor.

Locally, the Horwich business has sponsored Southport Trinity FC for the past two years — recently surprising the under 9s team with a Christmas present of new hooded training jackets.

The Southport outfit decided that the kit donated to the Under 9s side, once they had outgrown it, should be sent on to the children of Penyem.

Imerja’s commercial director Mark Evans said: “Grass roots football is vital to the continuing development of the sport.

“We are delighted to be able to support the kids and team of volunteers that coach and manage the club. “Over in Penyem, football is just as important and it truly brings people together. It’s great to see the donated strip being used to support the children’s team there too.”

Damien Kennedy, manager at Southport Trinity U9s, said: “The boys at Southport Trinity have benefitted from the wonderful kit that Imerja provided two years ago.

“Now they have outgrown the kit we felt it was right to donate it to the children of Penyem, who Imerja has also supported for years.”

Imerja is a specialist IT service provider with particular expertise of working in the public sector.

The firm, based in the Paragon Business Park in Chorley New Road, Horwich delivers technical, engineering, professional and support services.