This weekend, A-League clubs are joining forces to tackle one of football’s off-field challenges — kit waste – through ‘The Great Save’ initiative.
First launched in the UK and now embraced in Australia and New Zealand, The Great Save is a collaboration between the PFA, A-League clubs and key sustainability partners KitAid Australia, the Salvation Army and UnwantedFC. The campaign’s objective is to reduce sportswear waste and provide football kit to communities in need in Australia and overseas.
Melbourne City FC, Western Sydney Wanderers, Brisbane Roar, Western United and Canberra United will have Salvation Army volunteers at their matches this weekend, collecting pre-loved kit from fans ready to make a difference.
Behind the scenes, A-League clubs have set up KitAid Australia donation bins in team locker rooms and common areas, allowing players to offload unused gear throughout March and April. All donations will be delivered to communities in need across Australia, the Indo-Pacific, and Africa.
KitAid Australia’s David Walker runs the organisation’s recycling efforts out of Toowoomba, and outlined the real-world impact unused sportswear provides communities in Australia and abroad.
“The donations from players and clubs in the A-League will be incredibly helpful, and will be sent to places around Australia, the Indo-Pacific and even Africa where they will have real impact for each recipient. They will help more kids play football here and around the world.”
Matildas and Everton midfielder Clare Wheeler, a proud KitAid ambassador, underlined the importance of the initiative.
“As a football industry, we need to take more responsibility for our impact on the environment. At the end of every season as a football player, there’s always kit we have left over and rather than that ending up in landfill, it’s about taking ownership and giving it to someone in need.”
To raise awareness of the campaign, Salvos Stores around the country have been hiding exclusive player-signed A-League, Matildas and Socceroos jerseys, dropped into circulation as part of a surprise national treasure hunt.
Sarah Oakley, Acting Senior Manager – Circular Economy at Salvos, says the campaign speaks directly to a growing environmental need.
“Within Australia, more than 200,000 tonnes of textiles go to landfill each year, which could be otherwise repurposed, recycled or reworn. Salvos Stores divert millions of items every month to help support our mission, as well as ensuring we’re able to support The Salvation Army programs provided around the country.”
The final part of the campaign’s multi-pronged approach is Unwanted FC – an Australian organisation that has helped A-League and national team players ‘upcycle’ unused or unwanted gear to give it a second life.
Players including Juan Mata, Michelle Heyman, Alex Chidiac and Andrew Redmayne have had kit upcycled by Unwanted FC founders and brothers Kevin and Keith Chan.
“In England, we used to get two new kits for every match… and then you think about the boots, the shin guards and everything else. So, what Unwanted FC and the PFA are doing is really amazing,” Juan Mata said, who had a Manchester United jersey upcycled into a wash bag by Unwanted FC.
