Wolviston FC is delighted to announce that our Under 12 Girls team will proudly wear the logo of The Harvey McWilliams Foundation on their home shirts for the 2026/27 season.

The Foundation has generously agreed to sponsor the team's new home kit and everyone at Wolviston FC would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Michael, Kelly, Luke and everyone involved with the charity for their incredible support.

This partnership is about much more than football shirts.

Over the coming season, Wolviston FC and The Harvey McWilliams Foundation will work together to help ensure more young people have access to football and the equipment needed to play. As part of the partnership, the club will establish a permanent football kit and equipment donation point at Metcalfe Park, encouraging our members, supporters and visiting teams to donate unwanted boots, shin pads, goalkeeper gloves, kits and training wear that can be passed on to those who need them most.

Football Is For Everyone

The Harvey McWilliams Foundation was established in 2023 by the McWilliams family in loving memory of Harvey McWilliams, who sadly passed away in December 2021 aged just 18.

Harvey was a talented footballer who played for Darlington FC's Academy, supported Sunderland AFC and continued playing while studying at the University of Exeter. He was known not only for his passion for football but also for his generosity, regularly giving away boots, shin pads and football equipment to other players who needed them.

That spirit of kindness remains at the heart of the Foundation today.

Built around Harvey's belief that "Football is for everyone", the charity collects, cleans and redistributes football equipment free of charge to children and young people across the North East through its hugely successful Boot Library initiative.

Changing Lives Through Football

What started as a way of honouring Harvey's memory has grown into one of the region's most impactful grassroots football charities.

The Foundation works tirelessly to remove barriers that can prevent young people from taking part in sport. By providing football boots, kits, shin pads, gloves and other equipment, it helps ensure that financial circumstances do not stop children from enjoying the game they love.

The impact has been remarkable. Over the past year alone, the Foundation has helped distribute close to 1,000 pairs of football boots and more than 2,000 items of football kit to families across the North East.

Its support has helped countless children take their first steps into grassroots football, while also supporting existing players and families facing increasing financial pressures.

The charity's work has earned recognition across the region and nationally, including praise from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for transforming personal tragedy into a lasting legacy that continues to benefit communities throughout the North East.

Working Together for Our Community

At Wolviston FC, we believe grassroots football has the power to bring people together, build confidence, create friendships and provide opportunities for young people to thrive.

The values championed by The Harvey McWilliams Foundation align perfectly with our own ambitions to ensure football remains welcoming, inclusive and accessible for everyone.

We are incredibly proud that our Under 12 Girls team will represent both organisations next season and look forward to working together to support families across Billingham, Wolviston, Teesside and County Durham.

How You Can Help

If you have any unwanted football equipment sitting in a cupboard, garage or loft, please consider donating it.

We will soon be launching a collection point at Metcalfe Park for:

• Football boots
• Shin pads
• Goalkeeper gloves
• Football kits
• Training wear
• Footballs

Every donation, no matter how small, can help a young player continue their football journey.

Further details on how to donate will be announced ahead of the new season.

Thank You

Once again, thank you to The Harvey McWilliams Foundation for supporting our Under 12 Girls team and for the incredible work you continue to do across our communities.

Together, we can help ensure that every child has the opportunity to enjoy football and access the equipment needed to play the game they love.