Callum's football kit is tribute to NHS heroes - and he'd love Arsenal to wear it

When Callum Jones was given the task of designing a new football kit by his junior team’s coach, his first thought was for the NHS.
Callum Jones' kit for the NHSCallum Jones' kit for the NHS
Callum Jones' kit for the NHS

The seven-year-old had seen on the news how people were rallying round to support and cheer all our health service heroes in these times of crisis, and thought a football strip that highlighted their work would be great.

Callum, who plays for Bognor Regis Town under-eights, got to work on his design – and the end result, which you can see here, is a very colourful kit that would look striking on any team.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The shirts and socks carry the message ‘Save our NHS’ and Callum has even included ‘Covid’ and ‘19’ on the back of the shirts.

Now the young Arsenal fan and his family are hoping a kit manufacturer may take up the cause and bring his design to life.

The Downview Primary School pupil’s ultimate dream would be to see his Gunners hero – striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – sporting his NHS kit.

Callum, who lives in Felpham, told us: “The coach of my team said we should design our own kits and I had seen what was happening with the coronavirus, so I wanted my kit to be for the NHS.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I hope someone will make the kit into a real one. I’d like my team to play in it or even Arsenal, who are my favourite team.”

Callum JonesCallum Jones
Callum Jones

Callum’s mum Kylie said: “Their coach gave them the kit design templates and left it to them to design what they wanted.

“I was really proud that Callum thought of the NHS.

“We’d explained to him what was happening with the virus and it obviously made quite an impression on him.

“It’s nice to see that children are doing their bit to thank the NHS for all the hard work they’re doing at the moment.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Callum’s older brother Lewis (14), who plays for Felpham Colts, is also a big Arsenal fan although the boys’ sister Ella, ten, is not a football fan.

Has your child done a great bit of artwork in honour of our NHS Heroes? If so we’d like to see it – email a picture of their their work and all the details to [email protected]

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

Thank you for reading this story on our website.

But I also have an urgent plea to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality local news on this free-to-read site and in print, please purchase a copy of our newspaper as well. With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on our town centres and many of our valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you buying a copy.

Our journalists are highly trained by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards anywhere in the world. Our content is universally trusted - as all independent research proves.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

As Baroness Barran said in a House of Lords debate this week on the importance of journalists: "Not only are they a trusted source of facts, but they will have a role to play in rallying communities and getting the message across about how we can keep ourselves and our families safe, and protect our NHS. Undoubtedly, they have a critical role."

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis. In return we will continue to forensically cover the local news - not only the impact of the virus but all the positive and uplifting news happening in these dark days.

In addition, please write to your MP urging the Government to provide some additional financial support for local newspapers and their websites like this one and ensuring that supermarkets continue to stock them. I cannot stress enough how important such an intervention would be.

We thank all our readers and advertisers for their understanding and support - and we wish YOU all the best in the coming weeks. Keep safe, and follow the Government advice. Thank you.