We have had a couple more donations

One from Blackpool and another from Stockport great stuff guys keep it up - the auction is gathering a pace and will be ready we hope by xmas the idea being all pledge a £5 then we draw for all the great prizes - more news to follow - Thanks to a very generous member the team are ok for the near future so that we can keep raising monies for the mini bus to make the team self sufficient - lets hope we can realise that dream - its been a slow atart but I have been encoraged in recent days and believe we can achieve our / their dream

donations

Well they are starting to come in with the publicity - we have donations from Italy - Newcastle -Stockport - Manchester in the last few days - Thanks to those who donated and if you hav'nt yet give us yer dosh

If you have a chance please get down to mini coms on sat for the Bert Trautman Trophy KO 1pm proceeds in aid of St Helens Town and OUR appeal - prices £2 for City card holders all others £4 - there will also be a bucket collection at the game - please give what you can for two worthwhile causes

Things are gathering steam

We have had two generous donations of £50 in the last couple of days

On sat get down to the ground for the Bert Trautman game with loads of legends turning up to play at mini coms along with ST Helens and all the proceeds will be split with the SL fund - there will also be a bucket collection on the day

Well I am back

Had a great time - and lots happening whilst I have been away - Mark Hughes has endorsed our campaign - The Phuket branch have made a generous donation to keep the team afloat for the coming season - and the Sunday Mirror are running the story on the web site - very soon we will be holding an auction on line for some great man city stuff including a signed photo of the current team and one of colin bell and more besides

I will be back in the next few days to update all thats happening at the moment

am off to land of smiles for a few weeks

so less from me whilst I am away - but we will be organising a Xmas raffle and an auction on the CSA website - and if worst comes to worst - I will buy a TukTuk whilst I am there and drive the fecking thing to Sierra Leone myself and start work early November - unless you know differnet that is and are willing to give me you hard earned cash - you know you want to - in the words of Garry Cooke JUST DO IT - see you all soon

Phil

please please donate

we now have a "donate button" top right on the site please give now YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO

figure from collection

not as much as we had hoped or estimated - last time I have a go at estimating anyway

£2,300 but a wee bit more to come in yet - so thanks again to all who gave or helped in any way at all

The next step is to set about raising the remainder to that end we will be having an auction of signed man city gear in the near future on the CSA site - it will be linked from both the MEN and the Official site and of course I will post details on here

We are working on a few angles at the moment and will let you know if they come off or not

THANK YOU

Hi All

Just a quick note - to thank you all for the effort put into the collection on Sat - we dont know yet how much we collected a very rough estimate £3-4000 - will let you all know as soon as I do - the money is in the Post Office for counting and changing in something less heavy (ask Tony)

ALL THOSE WHO PUT MONEY INTO THE BUCKETS A BIG BIG THANKYOU

So if you carried a bucket - helped in the organising - ran around with T Shirts - stood next to a Police van for the duration - donated - sweat with the rest of us - work at the club and helped out THANK YOU without any one of you it would not have been the success we think it is


That was a good start - now can we get to £20,000

Phil

talksport tonight

Alex Channon the Chairman of the CSA will be on the Mark Saggers show tonight at 9.40pm talking about the Sierra Leone appeal - give it a listen

http://www.talksport.net/

time to step up to the plate

probably not get another chance before the game on sat to thank all who have encouraged me and driven me on in this as I need to fly over on Fri night right after work - BUT - not just me the CSA - Tony Alex David Howard Gary - The Club are really bending over backwards to help which is great - I cant thank them enough for what they are doing this weekend and beyond - its just caught everyones imagination - also on that front Howard will be in Carrington next week for a Photo op with the Manager / Players to promote the cause - again a great gesture by the club - those to thank are numerous but special thanks to Lorraine, Vicky, Garry, Chris, and ESP Rosie as I have her seat for the game but not for that reason - She has been great - I have made mistakes along the way and these people have guided me along the way before I could damage the cause after all I am just a football fan not an itellectual - also thanks to all the guys n gals who will man the buckets on Sat - on that note we will meet in the Townley from 11am - we will leave the townley at about 12.30 to meet the club reps at 12.45 - then start collecting at 1.00pm - if you cant make the Townley then text e mail phone whatever me and will make other arrangements for you - seems this is the beggining and not the end of this campaign - as it will be on the Official site as a link to an auction for signed memrabilia etc etc -

On the publicity front - we hope its in the MEN Friday night - one of us will be on the Mark Saggers (sp) show on Friday night (talksport) maybe the Indy and Guardian on Sat morning its in the prog on Sat - A really really helpful guy who I will name if he says ok has done all the PR FREE and maybe has inroads into Vauxhall - I wait with baited breath - Unlucky me has now found a seat in level 1 west stand so look out for me plus Tont and Alex at half time we will be telling all about the appeal - but since I am crapping it expect more from them than me - there are buskers outside the ground on Sat please give them your full support as they will also be collecting for the cause

I did not realise until today what a brilliant job our Club do with charities etc etc Lorraine has 2000 calls e mails etc etc per month - 24,000 per year - so its not suprising to hear she is overworked and underpaid - I have only done this for a few months and am completley knackered - its a full time job almost - the Club from this experience are the bees knees guys and have helped me and the CSA to make this a success (I hope) - this is the less publacised side of our club - - please be proud of your club in this venture

I had tears in my eyes on Tuesday when Armani spoke on Blue Tuesday and I really hope so do you on Sat please give what you can - this is without doubt the most worthwhile cause to be collected for that I can recall at either ground in the last 49 years (as thats the time I have been going)

Been a very very busy day with e mails , phone calls etc etc flying around - I would not want to do this for a living its just too exhausting - I love Aramni to bits and the cause we are supporting and wish I could just write a cheque for the required amount but sadly I cant so I am relaint ON YOUR RESPONSE - on Sat - so please please give give give - its saves lives and enhances lives - I had no idea how much until I got involved in thsi - so you will just have to take my word for it this is the MOTHER of APPEALS - as Garry would say JUST DO IT- as I would say - GIVE US YER DOSH

This is a long and very heart felt post becuase I believe in the cause and I believe WE CAN MAKE A MASSIVE DIFFERENCE in Sierra Leone - we have but one chance please take that chance on Saturday

Love you all Phil

ps any spelling mistakes - grammer foo pahs etc etc I make no apology for as I am who I am and I am also under the influence of the white spirit

Thanks for reading NOW gime yer dosh

if I have time on the morrow before I leave I will post the talksport link etc etc

Blue Tuesday

Tony was on tonight with Cheesy and Lakey - came across well and they rang Armani in Sierra Leone - He also came across well - so hoping something good comes out of it

HELP

sorry for the new topic but needed it to be seen

First on the morrow get tuned to GMR Blue Tuesday with Cheesy and Lakey where Tonty will be giving an interview and they will be ringing Armani in SL

[b]Second - we still need bucket collectors [/b]

Third - I will be on the danny kelly show on Talk Sport thurs or friday doing an interview

[b]Fourth - we still need bucket collectors[/b]

who cares the number - articles will be in the Guardian and Indy on Sat Morning
[b]
we still need bucket collectors[/b]

prob on BBC sat morning

[b]we still need bucket collectors[/b]

its in the Prog for Sat

[b]we still need bucket collectors[/b]

if noel liam curly anyone reading this is feeling generous please conatct me

[b]we still need bucket collectors[/b]

this needs to work we get one shot

[b]we still need bucket collectors[/b]

we will have signed merchandise to sell on e bay etc etc after sat

[b]we still need bucket collectors[/b]

[b]WE NEED YOUR HELP [/b]

[b]we still need bucket collectors[/b]

[b]HELP[/b]

have a listen

Tony Griffiths the guy who started all this off - will be on Blue Tuesday on GMR - on believe it or not Tuesday between 6 and 7 pm along with Cheesy and Lakey - they will also be making a 2/3 min phone call to Armani in Sierra Leone (hope he does not go off on one)

Tony is crapping it - Cheesy rang him and said be there by 5.45pm - Tony " I will be there by 5 looking for a parking space - this is live and too important I am not gonna be late"

Have a listen - get the whole story


http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/manchester/hi/tv_and_radio/

great stuff

good news - the club are now backing this - we can collect both outside and INSIDE the ground - they are going to run an article in the match prog - also have a photo shoot with the manager / player with collection T Shirts on - interview at half time on big screen from the pitch (bit nervous about that) - and donate some signed merchandise to auction / raffle - + ongoing publicity and news in both the prog and the mag etc etc - the licence from the council arrived today - so things are looking up - I also recieved the first cq today for £20 from a kind soul - as a club the fans never cease to amaze me - we are the best fans on the planet when we want to be - all we need now is for some kind soul (noel liam curly victoria etc etc) to get the bug and make up the diffo between what we raise and the final cost - heres hoping ?

still in desperate need

of bucket holders - come on you know you want to

not much to report

bit worried about bucket holders not enough yet

licence is ok

mcfc are ok with it

we need a bit more impetuous

update

We may have MOTD2 interested plus 5 live talksport and some daily tabloids - so all good stuff

The club had the CITC meeting today where we think it was discussed - although not heard yet

We still need volunteers for the buckets please contact if you can help

If you type Bucket collection sierra leone into google OMG

getting a wee bit nervous now as it gets closer - I really hope this works as we get one shot and only one

update

Seems the press have got a hold of this and we expect a few articles in the dailys and few interviews on radio / tv - its building momentum - as it should - I have never been involved with anything like this before and it still brings a tear to my eye - will start to post inside stories about landladies and appendix ops and things asap - this story needs to be told - Just Do It

oops

sorry guys the radio prog is

Radio Manchester 6pm til 7pm starting Tuesday 18th August.

Tony's on Tuesday 8th Sept.

please see my blog

mistake sorry

UPDATE

Update 4/8/2009

Ian Cheeseman has a new radio show starting tonight 8pm I think called Blue Tuesday - Tony Griffiths the guy who started all this will be on talking about the appeal and Sierra Leone in general on tuesday sept 8th from 8-9pm

The appeal will be in the sept issue of the City Magazine


I have contacted the club with a view to help from them - they have shown a tentative interest so far so fingers crossed


We have also contacted various news outlets


The intention now if all goes to plan is to but the mini bus here get it liveried and six of us drive over to Sierra Leone on a fund raising trip and get as much publicity as we can for both MCFC and MCFC Sierra Leone

donations

we now have two methods of donating to the cause


you send send a cheque p/o etc etc to


CSA Sierra Leone Appeal
C/O Phil Holme
5 Hartfield Ave
Portadown
Co Armagh
N Ireland
BT62 4DF


payable to MCFC CSA (Endosed on the back Sierra Leone)

or you can pay direct into the CSA Bank Account

please e mail me or pm me for bank details

payable to MCFC CSA (Sierra Leone)

Thanks in advance

There will be more updates now that I am back from working in England

Pirates Game

Tony and I went to watch the game on Sat and typical City did not let us down the stream fdrom Africa was 30 mins late and as soon as they got pictures - they scored

On a better note we handed out leaflets on the appeal and we were well recieved by the majority of fans there to watch and buy the new shirt - We had some very good feedback from quite a few and a new volunteer for a bucket - Thanks Nikki

BTW

Tony was on the radio tonight in SL - postponed last night due to a storm - no link was avilable - but will will try to get a recording posted

Can not believe none of "the guys"

Have not joined yet - anyway a little lull in the proceedings as I am off to England on the morrow - see my sick parents - but I will be at the ground on Sat to watch us beat those Pirates and will be handing out leaflets for the collection along with the main man Tony who set all this is motion in 2003 - so not much from me until I sober up on monday - goodnight

Time for bed

This is going to be a long appeal but I intend to make it widely known every night and day until 12/9/09 so I need my sleep see you on the morrow

PAYPAL OMG RIP OFF

Dear *********,

Thanks for contacting PayPal and I appreciate the opportunity to assist you
with your questions.

First of all, my apologies for the delay that you have experienced in
hearing back from PayPal Customer Support. This delay is the result of
high volume of incoming email inquiries lately. We are working as quickly
as we can to address all of your concerns in a timely manner and to get our
volumes under control.

I perfectly understand that you are enquiring if you can set up separate
account for accepting donations.

Let me go ahead and assist you with that. Yes, you may go ahead and set up
an account for accepting donations. However, accepting funds is not free of
charge. You will still get charge of £3.4% + .20 GBP of the whole amount.
To set up another account and on how to add donation button on your
website, kindly refer below.

Here's how to open a PayPal account.

1. Visit the PayPal website at https://www.paypal.co.uk/.
2. Click "Sign Up" at the top of the page.
3. Select your country or region from the drop down.
4. Select your preferred account type and click "Get Started."
5. Enter your information, including your email address and password,
which you will need to log in to your PayPal account.
o Enter your full email address, for example, name@domain.com.
o Your password must be at least 8 characters with no accented
characters and is case-sensitive.
6. Click the button at the bottom of the page to create your account.

===============================================

To add a Donation button to your website:

Note: You can create a basic button without logging in, however for
advanced button customization you will need to log in. To use the button
designer, your web browser must be JavaScript enabled.

1. Go to the button designer page on the PayPal website and log in to
your PayPal account.
2. On Step 1, select "Donations" from the drop-down menu.
3. Click "Customize button," and then enter your information to
customize the donation button.
4. If you are logged in to your PayPal account, click Step 2 and Step 3
for additional features.
5. Click "Create Button."
6. Click "Select Code" to select the button code.
7. Copy and paste the button code into your own web page code.

Note: After creating your first button, click "Go to My saved buttons" and
bookmark this page for easy access to your saved buttons.

Should you need anything else, or require more information, please don’t
hesitate to contact us further. Thanks again for being our customer.

We appreciate your patience and understanding regarding this matter, and
wish you continued success on PayPal.

Thank you for choosing PayPal.

A radio station in SL has got wind of this and will be interviewing Tony by phone and Armani will be in the studio on the morrow 9pm uk time approx - we are getting a link we hope to listen via tinternet - will post when I get it - the publicity machine is up and running with GMR - Key 103 - the city mag - programme - various sites - a blog - twitter - KOTK - etc etc etc

ohhh and on sat

look out for the tony and me watching the game at the stadium we will be the ones with the handouts for this - and ask as many questions as you want esp from Tony as he started it all back in 2003

we get one shot at this we need to make it count

repeat of first post to keep on front page

Site dedicated to only one purpose

SOS 12th September 2009 Bucket Collection For MCFC Sierra Leone

PLEASE GIVE WHAT YOU CAN - AND IF YOU CAN HELP OUT ON THE DAY CONTACT ME

In the autumn of 2003 a member of Reddish Branch of the CSA completed 30 years as a police officer in Manchester and retired. He then started working in Sierra Leone in West Africa, where his job was to train detectives out there to investigate child abuse.

Sierra Leone has for the past several years been either last, or second to last in the world wealth league tables published every year. Average life expectancy is around 38 years and living conditions for most people are appalling. On top of all these problems the country has gone through a particularly bloody civil war that lasted 11 years and only ended in 2000.

When he arrived in Freetown, the capital City, Tony noticed the usual scattering of people wearing Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United shirts. It soon became apparent that football is massive in the country and most people follow the English Premier League. At the end of his first week he was enjoying a beer at a beach bar when a young man approached him by the name of Armani Sheku KAMARA who was selling watches, sunglasses etc. He noticed that he was wearing a Manchester United lapel badge. As Tony is a dyed in the wool blue he joked with the young man that he could not buy any of his merchandise from a man wearing and Man United badge. Within a short time he agreed to throw the offending item into the Atlantic Ocean and negotiations commenced. It soon became apparent that not only did he have a good knowledge of Premier League football he also had a good knowledge of the ups and downs of Manchester City. He assured Tony that he was only wearing the United badge because a customer had given it to him and he promised him that if I could get him a City shirt he would be a City fan for the rest of his life. Little did he known what that conversation would lead to.

In early 2004 Tony returned to Sierra Leone having spent a few weeks back in Manchester, and of course took back with him a City shirt for Armani. Within a few days of receiving the shirt Armani told Tony that he was setting up a Man City Supporters Club in Freetown. When Tony next returned to UK he discussed the Sierra Leone situation, first with Howard Burr the Secretary of the Reddish Branch and then with Alex Channon the Chair of the C.S.A.. It was then that the Sierra Leone Branch of the Manchester City Centenary Supporters Association was born.

On Tony’s next visit he was able to take back with him several dozen assorted City shirts donated by City fans over here. They proved very popular and soon were being seen all around the Freetown streets. Soon Armani had formed a Manchester City Football team in Freetown as well as a Junior Man City team. The problem was that they were wearing a red and white striped kit that they had to rent on a match-by-match basis. Following discussion with Lorraine Firth at Manchester City the club kindly donated a full kit for the team out there. There was also a concerted effort by a lot of Branches to collect a s many shirts, boots as possible these were also sent.

Another recent development is that a Reddish Branch member donated a generator for the community where Armani lives allowing around 100 people to have electricity. The shipping of the generator was financed by C.S.A. funds with the blessing of its members.

Tony Griffiths last visited Sierra Leone in March 2007 and we were proud to hear of many men women and children wearing an array of City shirts around the capital and beyond. The football team formed such a short time ago is going from strength to strength and Armani is something of a local celebrity who is frequently interviewed on national radio in Sierra Leone and works extremely hard to promote Man City for no financial reward.

The Phuket Branch of the MCFC CSA then very kindly donated both a new home and away kit as many of the shirts donated were getting a bit passed it.

On 23rd. November 2008 Man City Youth team appeared in the Sierra Leone F.A. Youth Cup final and WON.

Not bad for a team that did not exist 4 years ago.

You now can't walk through Freetown without seeing a City shirt and hearing shouts of City Till I die

Unfortunately the first team had to pull out of the main league this season as it did not have enough cash - although the league have agreed to keep their place in division two for next season assuming they have funds in place

The next phase is to try and help make the team financially independent by raising £15-20,000 for a bus this would double up as both transport to away matches which is one of the most prohibitive costs to the team - Then during the rest of the week it would become a revenue maker by running it as a proper bus in the Capital this would give two people a job and also raise enough cash to keep the teams running. Also it should provide enough to replace the bus every 10 years.

This is not just another fund raiser - the work being done is changing lives and keeping young people off the streets and giving them a common bond - it is CHANGING LIVES and even SAVING some.

Hence the appeal and the collection which will take place around the ground at the Arsenal game on Sept 12th 2009 - if you see peeps with buckets and bright T Shirts collecting on the day please give what you can - if you won't be there and whish to send a donation for now you can contact me and I will sort out for you.

We also need up to 50 volunteers to man the buckets so to speak so if you want to help again contact me

A quiet day compared to yesterday

But we have had a very generous offer from on BIG BLUE
We have contacted more sites - ezines - The Alps guys - the City Mag will run an article for us
The story is up and running on loads of site now - hopefully we have started a runaway train that gathers pace as it goes - please feel free to copy the picture on this page(its the image we are using for the collection) and use as screensaver or wallpaper on mobiles and computers and spread the word far and wide - the more peeps that know the better - said it before but we get one shot at this lets make it count

Lots of E mail and messages

on sites and in my inbox this morning very encouraging - off to work - will update the days happenings on my return

off to bed knackered - did not mean to stay at it this long but well worth it - cheers guys for the help - this will be one mother of a collection I promise - I may be just a lttle bit under the infuence (just a tad) but again well worth it - now I really am going to hit the sack - Thanks again guys

plus Rock radio - Chris Bailey - and KOTK (king of the kippax )

as far as I can make out

the peeps who now know about this less than 12 hours after it started are - GMR - Key 103 - MCFC prog - Andy Hinchcliffe - Ian Cheeseman - Bluemoon - Wookies - Citymancs - Mancityblues - The Club - every CSA club - every OSC club - City Mag - Muen - and a few more I cant recall - but we are on a roll - specifically H is on a roll - lets keep the ball rolling so to speak - and not let up until at least two weeks after the event

Great First Night

For those not involved at the very start this wont mean much - BUT a VERY BIG thankyou to all who helped tonight get the ball rolling - LETS MAKE THIS THE BIGGEST THING AT COMs so far - as far as collecting is concerned that is - I am getting excited by this this now - with so many good people behind it how can it fail - as Gery Cooke would say - Just Do It

Since I am very new to this

I will try to do my best and keep it informative, factual and fun - if you want anything added please contact me

This really is a great cause guys you have no idea of the change being made in Sierra Leone - it does not matter which team you support This is football fans helping football fans - its a tear jerker of the magnitude of 23 kleenex (more if I had not emptied the box)


We have one shot at this and we need to make it count, failure is not an option not for me not for the CSA - but for those in Sierra Leone counting on YOU and ME

Site dedicated to only one purpose

SOS CONTINUING APPEAL - PLEASE GIVE WHAT YOU CAN

In the autumn of 2003 a member of Reddish Branch of the MCFC Supporters Club completed 30 years as a police officer in Manchester and retired. He then started working in Sierra Leone in West Africa, where his job was to train detectives out there to investigate child abuse.

Sierra Leone has for the past several years been either last, or second to last in the world wealth league tables published every year. Average life expectancy is around 38 years and living conditions for most people are appalling. On top of all these problems the country has gone through a particularly bloody civil war that lasted 11 years and only ended in 2000.

When he arrived in Freetown, the capital City, Tony noticed the usual scattering of people wearing Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United shirts. It soon became apparent that football is massive in the country and most people follow the English Premier League. At the end of his first week he was enjoying a beer at a beach bar when a young man approached him by the name of Armani Sheku KAMARA who was selling watches, sunglasses etc. He noticed that he was wearing a Manchester United lapel badge. As Tony is a dyed in the wool blue he joked with the young man that he could not buy any of his merchandise from a man wearing and Man United badge. Within a short time he agreed to throw the offending item into the Atlantic Ocean and negotiations commenced. It soon became apparent that not only did he have a good knowledge of Premier League football he also had a good knowledge of the ups and downs of Manchester City. He assured Tony that he was only wearing the United badge because a customer had given it to him and he promised him that if I could get him a City shirt he would be a City fan for the rest of his life. Little did he known what that conversation would lead to.

In early 2004 Tony returned to Sierra Leone having spent a few weeks back in Manchester, and of course took back with him a City shirt for Armani. Within a few days of receiving the shirt Armani told Tony that he was setting up a Man City Supporters Club in Freetown. When Tony next returned to UK he discussed the Sierra Leone situation, first with Howard Burr the Secretary of the Reddish Branch and then with Alex Channon the Chaities Officer of the MCFC Supporters Club It was then that the Sierra Leone Branch of the Manchester City Supporters Club was born.

On Tony’s next visit he was able to take back with him several dozen assorted City shirts donated by City fans over here. They proved very popular and soon were being seen all around the Freetown streets. Soon Armani had formed a Manchester City Football team in Freetown as well as a Junior Man City team. The problem was that they were wearing a red and white striped kit that they had to rent on a match-by-match basis. Following discussion with Lorraine Firth at Manchester City the club kindly donated a full kit for the team out there. There was also a concerted effort by a lot of Branches to collect a s many shirts, boots as possible these were also sent.

Another recent development is that a Reddish Branch member donated a generator for the community where Armani lives allowing around 100 people to have electricity. The shipping of the generator was financed by C.S.A. funds with the blessing of its members.

Tony Griffiths last visited Sierra Leone in March 2007 and we were proud to hear of many men women and children wearing an array of City shirts around the capital and beyond. The football team formed such a short time ago is going from strength to strength and Armani is something of a local celebrity who is frequently interviewed on national radio in Sierra Leone and works extremely hard to promote Man City for no financial reward.

The Phuket Branch of the MCFC Supporters Club then very kindly donated both a new home and away kit as many of the shirts donated were getting a bit passed it.

On 23rd. November 2008 Man City Youth team appeared in the Sierra Leone F.A. Youth Cup final and WON.

Not bad for a team that did not exist 4 years ago.

You now can't walk through Freetown without seeing a City shirt and hearing shouts of City Till I die

Unfortunately the first team had to pull out of the main league this season as it did not have enough cash - although the league have agreed to keep their place in division two for next season assuming they have funds in place

The next phase is to try and help make the team financially independent by raising loads of dosh for a bus this would double up as both transport to away matches which is one of the most prohibitive costs to the team - Then during the rest of the week it would become a revenue maker by running it as a proper bus in the Capital this would give two people a job and also raise enough cash to keep the teams running. Also it should provide enough to replace the bus every 10 years.

This is not just another fund raiser - the work being done is changing lives and keeping young people off the streets and giving them a common bond - it is CHANGING LIVES and even SAVING some.


http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/NijinskyNI/CITYKIDSINSL0copy.png