DORCHESTER Town FC have donated a full football kit to young men in Sudan.

Football and other sports are being promoted in the area by the church as a way to help communities recover from the traumas of war, which have ruined so many lives.

The Magpies' involvement in this initiative began when Rev Harold Stephens (Team Rector of Dorchester) had a chance meeting in Salisbury recently with Bishop John Zawo from the diocese of Ezo (South-western Sudan) where they talked about football.

On his return Rev Stephens contacted club stalwart Stacey Legge, who is a former director of the county town club and also a member of St Mary's Church, Dorchester.

Through his links with the club Legge arranged for a full kit to be made available for donation.

Canon Ian Woodward, vice-chairman of the Salisbury-Sudan Link Committee, has now received the kit and said: "We would like to thank Dorchester Town for the generosity they have shown in supplying us with this football kit.

"We are hoping now to persuade other clubs in our diocese to follow suit and donate any spare kit."

Magpies' director Neill Blake added: "The club is delighted to promote any involvement in the community and we look forward to learning of any further developments particularly when the kit is being worn in Sudan sporting the Magpies' crest."

The kit is due to be taken out to Sudan in November when the next visit from Salisbury takes place. Anyone interested in donating good quality spare football kits for other teams in Bishop Zawo's diocese can do so by contacting Rev Harold Stephens on 268434.