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Big Coat Day Rolls On

January 1st’s Big Coat Day may have been hit by the big freeze but the public nevertheless responded magnificently by donating two tons of winter clothing for the homeless and needy.

Representatives of churches, Jewish groups, schools, community centres and workplaces struggled through the ice and snow to get to Gigg Lane. A pensioner from Wigan visiting family nearby arrived to donate two coats and Jobcentreplus staff brought 40 sacks of clothing.

Vince Norton, 74, and Mike Norton were the FC fans who volunteered to brave three hours in the freezing cold gathering icicles as well as the donations. They even had a surprise when a driver in Rolls Royce arrived with two sacks of clothing. Try as they might they couldn’t get the Rolls as an additional donation.

Other surprises were the arrival of MPs Ivan Lewis and John Leech who turned up with donations even though they had been informed the game was off. But the most surprised people on the day were Maryam Khan, Labour candidate for Bury North. She had rescheduled her flight to attend the event and the game.

Two fans who had arrived from Lincoln who had not checked that the game was still on. But thankfully there were other FC fans to cheer them up as supporters turned up from as far away as Bacup, Wigan and Wythenshawe determined to make their contributions.

Boaz Trust Director, Dave Smith, remarks: "The response was truly amazing, given the freezing weather and that the match had been called off, and says a lot about the way the club is run and the generosity of its fantastic supporters."

And if he thinks that was good, let him see the responses to Son of Big Coat Day.

Thanks to all our fans and to Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Manchester, XFM radio, Salford City Radio, Peoples Voice Media, Manchester Evening News, Bury Times and the numerous other organisations that publicised the FC United event.



First Posted ~ 14:30 Tue 5 Jan 2010
News ID ~ 2644
Last Updated ~ 01:52 Tue 16 Feb 2021