A FOOTBALL-mad dad is to share his love of the sport with underprivileged children in India.

Jason Dennison, who has been the coach at Durrington FC for the past four years, was inspired to do something when he met a group of children visiting Marlborough College.

“It was a very humbling experience,” he said. “Through talking with them, I learned of the deprivations they face on a daily basis. Even when playing football, many of them are barefooted.

“Having a ten-year-old son who goes through football boots at an alarming rate, brought home to me just how fortunate we are in this country, and it made me determined to do something to help.”

So, on January 24, he will fly to Mumbai to deliver donated football kits he has been collecting.

The flight has been paid for by Jason’s employer, insurance broker Lycetts. Parent company, Benefact Group, have match-funded financial donations made by the public to Jason’s GiveStar crowd-funding account.

During his six-day stay in India, he will also be busy coaching football sessions for children.

He said: “My goal is to donate as much football kit as possible, whilst also raising funds to support the great work being done by the OSCAR Foundation.”

The foundation is a Sports for Development organisation that uses football as a powerful tool to instil the value of education and empower children with essential life skills.

It aims to contribute to the broader mission of nurturing responsible individuals who can take charge of the development of their communities.

So far, the foundation has empowered 14,000 young people in low-income communities in India.

Jason added: “People in Wiltshire have already kindly donated a lot of football kit, but we are still in need of football boots. Any size will do, and if anyone can help, they can contact me on 07843 632861.”

For more information or to make a donation, click here.