WEMBLEY food that should have been eaten at last year’s FA Cup final and five England matches is being shipped out to UK food banks.
More than 500,000 items of surplus food – both fresh produce and frozen – is being handed out by six charitable football clubs to vulnerable families struggling during lockdown.
Over the past 12 months, there have been no crowds allowed at Wembley due to the impact of the global Covid-19 pandemic.
Officials had stocked up their fridges in advance of the rearranged 2020 FA Cup Final – Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 in August thanks to two Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang goals – and England’s international friendlies and Uefa Nations League matches.
Rather than let it go to waste, three Premier League clubs – Liverpool, Everton and Aston Villa – as well as Oxford United, Wycombe Wanderers and Sutton will now distribute the food locally via foodbank networks.
It is understood the items include a mixture of dry and frozen foods such as soups, hot dogs, beans and vegetables.
Food that would have otherwise gone to waste is being delivered this week and will be soon dished out to those in desperate need during this Covid crisis.
Organisers say “all food items are of high quality and meet all legal food regulations and standards”.
It is an initiative set-up by the Football for Peace global charity and supermarket Aldi as part of their joint Food Drive campaign.
Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian has backed the campaign, saying: “I’m sure this will make a huge difference to families across the country.
“In these difficult times, the Football for Peace Food Drive is an important way for the football community to take collective action and give back to those most in need.
“It’s fantastic that clubs in different parts of the country have come on-board to help us make this project a great success.”
Kash Siddiqi, co-founder of Football for Peace, said: “When we heard about the surplus food at Wembley, we knew it was a great opportunity to contribute to communities across the country and make a real impact.
“It’s great to see the football community coming together for such a worthwhile cause.”
Wimbledon had a similar scheme last summer after cancelling the Championship for the first time in 75 years.
Tennis bosses ensured the strawberries and cream that had been bought in advance would not go to waste and one of the SW19 kitchens provided up to 200 free per day for disadvantaged individuals.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
