Shelter Scotland’s Gordon MacRae has explained the significant reasoning behind this weekend’s NoHomeKit campaign, which SPFL clubs will be taking part in.
This weekend, Celtic will be facing off against St Johnstone as they play out their second Scottish Premiership fixture at home since the return from the winter break.
Usually, supporters will turn up to Paradise to see the Bhoys turn out in the famous green and white Hoops. However, it will be a slightly different sight on this occasion.
As the Hoops line up for the Christmas Eve clash with Callum Davidson’s St Johnstone side, both teams will instead be sporting their away colours.
You would expect Ange Postecoglou’s team will be playing in their black and green stripped-away kit. Whilst St Johnstone are likely to be wearing their purple away kit.
The reasoning behind this change in strips for both sides is due to the SPFL club’s involvement in Shelter Scotland #NotHomeKit campaign.
All 12 top-flight clubs will be wearing their away colours to raise awareness around ‘the growing number of people who do not have a safe or secure place to call home’ [The Scotsman].
Ahead of Celtic and St Johnstone joining in the initiative, the assistant director of communication for the charity Shelter Scotland, Gordon MacRae, spoke out about the reasoning for raising awareness and how fans can play their part.
He said [Sky Sports]: “Well, we were delighted to be invited to speak at the AGM earlier this year and talk to them about that connection that the football community has with the idea of home.
“Home stadium, home colours, home game. It makes sense to be able to talk through football about the people who don’t have the luxury of a home.
“Because we know this year, with the cost of living crisis making it harder for people to keep a home, we wanted to draw attention to the thousands of children and households who will spend this Christmas without a safe place to call home.”
He continued: “Right now in Scotland, every 90 minutes, so the length of one of the games this weekend, five households become homeless.
“And that’s just because it’s really difficult to afford a home, keep a home, navigate a broken housing system. And that’s where Shelter Scotland comes in.
“We are there, on people’s side, to give them the advice and support they need to keep and find a new home.
“And that’s why the NoHomeKit initiative, by asking football fans, at the ground or on their sofa, to wear their away kit or third kit and then text HOME to 708000, donate £5.
“£1 for every family that will lose their family during that game, then it’s a great way to highlight this important issue, and it’s wonderful that the SPFL and the SWPL are fully behind this initiative.”
The Celtic women’s side has already taken part in the campaign, wearing the away strip in their home match against Dundee United earlier this month [Celtic FC].
It is fantastic to see the Scottish Premiership clubs get involved in this initiative, which will hopefully help raise awareness for the work being conducted by Shelter Scotland.
Supporters of all clubs have also been encouraged to join in by sporting their away/third kit when watching Saturday’s match.
Christmas can be a difficult time. So, it is great to see everyone trying to raise awareness during a tough period for so many people.
As mentioned, we will be seeing a slight change to the usual colours being worn at Paradise this weekend. But it is well worth the cause.
In other news, St Johnstone boss set to welcome back four key players for Celtic Park trip.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
