Whites back Kop hero’s charity sale

10:00am Thursday 4th September 2008

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FOR years he was famous for his skills on the football pitch. But, this week, John Barnes is dashing between all England’s Premiership football grounds with charity as his goal.

The former Liverpool and England star is collecting signed shirts from every top flight club for an auction to raise funds for the Ethiopian village of Lalibela.

Yesterday, John visited the Reebok Stadium, Wigan and Manchester City.

He was greeted by club officials and mascot Lofty the Lion then presented with a shirt signed by all the Wanderers squad by Tony Kelly, the club’s fans liaison officer, which will be auctioned.

John said: “All over the world, people play football with whatever they can get their hands on. But rarely have I witnessed such interest in the game as in Ethiopia.

“People in east Africa may be better known for athletics compared to west African nations, but their passion for football is unbelievable. When I was in Ethiopia, someone hooked up a satellite dish in a tent and 200 people watched a Premiership game.”

John is backing a Wash & Go shampoo campaign, called Score Ethiopia, which aims to raise money for vital amenities like water supplies and new schools — and a football pitch.

The donated shirts will be auctioned online at www.scoreethiopia.com.

John said: “I’d urge Bolton fans to bid for a shirt signed by their heroes and help a great charity.”

John was previously in Bolton in June, when he had a kick-around with children from St John’s CE Primary School in Kearsley.

His visit highlighted the children’s success in a competition to design a Ethiopian school football kit.

See our video report at theboltonnews.co.uk