SILSDEN'S badge may soon be commonplace in Sierra Leone after the Cobbydalers donated two full kits to a charity sending volunteers there.

Some volunteers from the local area are travelling to Sierra Leone in April, and one of them is Silsden supporter Philip Smith.

He has volunteered to help the Mission Direct charity and will be heading to Africa to help build schools and hospitals.

Silsden’s secretary and spokesman Jim Rosser said: “We gave them two full strips and some junior kits, and I believe that it’s the third time that the club has donated some equipment to the charity which supports a number of football clubs over there.

“We have asked our fellow Hallmark Security League clubs to do what they can and we hope that will bring even more equipment for teams in Sierra Leone.

"Our league has done its bit by promoting the appeal but it only went on the league’s official website on Tuesday, so we’re still waiting for word to get around.”

The volunteers will be in Freetown for the first week, working on the building of Waterloo Hospital and will then move to the coast for the second week to help finish off a medical centre, along with some Italian volunteers who are taking three local nurses back to Italy for two years of further training.

Rosser said: “The volunteers came down to the Cobbydalers’ last home game against Widnes, where we gave them the kits.

"We also thought it would be a good idea to sound out our future opponents to see if any other teams could donate any spare kit, boots shin pads etc.

“I’ve collected loads of boots from young parents who have bought new, flashy, boots for their children but the kids grow out of them so quickly that they’re only slightly used.

“I’ve even been in the garage and dug a pair of my old boots out - they are Predators.

"I think that it was former Liverpool player Craig Johnson who invented them. I think I’m safe donating them – my football playing days are well and truly over!”