A SHOP selling new, retro and vintage football shirts to raise money for cancer charities has re-opened in Festival Place.

Football Shirts For Charity sells new and pre-loved football shirts and has opened a pop-up shop again on the upper level of the shopping centre.

Basingstoke Gazette: The shop will be open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 6pm and on Sundays from 12noon to 4pm.

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It is the second time the shop has opened in Festival Place following a successful three-month stint in 2022.

The shop was the brainchild of football fans and colleagues Jayme Sporton and Tania Harding who decided to do something to raise money for causes close to their hearts.

The pair have both been affected by cancer in people very close to them and saw an opportunity to do something to make a difference by selling football shirts to raise money for the Bobby Moore Fund and Cancer Research UK.

The shirts have been donated by people from around the world, from international teams to local non-league sides, and Festival Place customers are also encouraged to drop off pre-loved kit that can be resold in the shop.

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All profits are donated to the two cancer charities.

Jayme and Tania worked together as education consultants but their work dried up during Covid-19 lockdowns, inspiring them to think of something else to fill their time.

Jayme, a 50-year-old father-of-two from Basingstoke, wanted to do something to raise money for cancer after his friend died of bowel cancer.

“I wanted to do something to honour his name,” he previously told the Gazette, adding: “I have had a passion for football shirts and thought ‘what can I do to combine the two?' We put out some requests and people started sending us shirts and it exploded from there.”

Tania, 45, from Alton, said football has always been a big part of her life and is a passion she shares with her father.

When her dad was diagnosed with bowel cancer aged 42, he was given less than 15 per cent chance of survival.

“Dad and I took solace watching matches together,” she previously said, adding; “Though it was very traumatic, we are thankful every day that he survived cancer.”

Tania’s life was again affected by cancer when she lost a university friend, Caroline, to the illness.

Tania said her personal experiences of cancer had inspired her to support cancer charities.

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The pair believe that every shirt has a story and that the nation’s passion for football is what has inspired people to get on board and support Football Shirts For Charity.

For more information visit footballshirtsfc.co.uk.