In 2004, Northampton teachers Anne and Andy Butler visited The Gambia. It was a family holiday which turned into a local charity appeal.
Seventeen years later, the charity has flourished into a successful organisation supported by Northamptonshire people and others worldwide.
The charity, Northampton Trustee Fund (NTF) has had close links with Northampton Town FC, through Russell Lewis and Club Secretary Nick Ancel (a former member of Andy’s class at middle school)!
From 2010, Andy and Anne took sixth form groups to visit The Gambia and in particular their adopted village of Penyem.
These visits always included a friendly football match against the Penyem Village Team.
In 2016, Andy challenged the Penyem Village girls to a match as most of his visiting school group were girls and so Penyem fielded their first girls team.
Girls football has gone from strength to strength since then, and they now compete in district competitions.
In 2019, the team took on the name ‘Penyem Cobblers’ as Northampton Town had supported their development by providing equipment and balls. In 2020, a full Cobblers kit was sent to the team in Penyem, donated by Northampton Town Women.
In 2021, boots and training kit was donated by the players of Moulton Ladies FC.
The Penyem Cobblers Coach, Jerreh Colley thanks everyone at Northampton Town for all the support and hopes that the links can be developed further.
Andy Butler
Northampton Trustee Fund