Sierra Leone website - Signed City Shirt donated back p7

Re: Sierra Leone website - updated with Armani's diary p5

mancityvstoke said:
met and spoke to armani at Stafford Social Club yesterday. A great fella. Gentleman and inspirational.

He left his coat and flag outside the social club by mistake but it was found by another city fan from one of the other coaches which stopped there also and handed back to him.

BLUES...GREAT FANS!!!

(Armanis business card looks great too)
Click to expand...

Tony, Howard, Nij (aka Phil), I demand to know that if Armani has had cards made, some of them find their way to me (nij might know why, but it is for the cause, so to speak.
And if this is the last game for Armani (on this trip) I hope he has enjoyed it (though having a choice between siting beside some drunken members of the Portadown club, or going to Wayne Bridges Suite, I know that Aramani would have prefered to sit with the real Blues, but gave Tony the night he deserved (just a pity the team didnt perform).
Thank you to Howard, Phil, Alec and A blue legend Paul Lake, but if it hadnt been for Tony, none of this would have happened, so top marks to Tony, and Armani, you are (for an ex rag lol) one of the best Blues I have had the pleasure to meet.
 
Re: Sierra Leone website - updated with Armani's diary p5

Article just appeared on the BBC site..

<a class="postlink" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/manchester/hi/people_and_places/newsid_9248000/9248386.stm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/manchester/ ... 248386.stm</a>

Sierra Leone City fan in 'thank you' trip to Manchester


An African football fan has visited Manchester City for the first time since Blues' fans raised money to buy a bus for his team in Sierra Leone.

In 2003, Armani Sheku Kamara was selling sunglasses on a beach when he got talking to City fan Tony Griffiths.

They became firm friends and, with the help of City fans, Tony and Armani have set up a Manchester City football team in the West African country.

Their latest donation, a team bus, was shipped to Sierra Leone in August.

Team bus

Sierra Leone is one of the world's poorest countries. Manchester City, one of its richest football clubs.

Yet, thanks to Tony and Armani, a bond forged on a beach has grown into a true Blue partnership.

Retired police officer Tony Griffiths recalled was in Sierra Leone in 2003 training the country's police force when he met Armani and they started talking football.

"He had the same passion but had no particular allegiance to any club. He soon became a big Man City fan and it's gone on from there."

Since then, Tony has organised years of fundraising by members of the Reddish branch of the Manchester City Supporters' Club.


Manchester City Sierra Leone FC bus
We hit on the idea of a team bus that could double up as a bus for fare paying passengers
Tony Griffiths, founder of Sierra Leone MCFC

It began by collecting unwanted City shirts.

But working together, Tony and Armani have since founded a football team, Sierra Leone MCFC which plays in a local league.

The team also now has its own bus emblazoned with the City badge which was shipped out to Sierra Leone in August.

"We decided that we needed a scheme that they would help them be self sufficient," said Tony.

"So we hit on the idea of a bus that could be used to take them to away fixtures at weekends, but would also double up as a bus for fare paying passengers during the week and create an income revenue for the team."

In August, with the help of Manchester City's City in the Community group, a container full of kit, training gear, laptops and books as well as the bus, was shipped to Freetown.

'Turning blue'

Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries in the world, with an average life expectancy of 38. An 11 year civil war came to an end in 2000.

Tony Griffiths and Armani Kamara
Tony and Armani met on a beach in Sierra Leone

Now, for the first time, Armani has finally been able to visit the home of Manchester City and thank the fans who have helped his countrymen still suffering the effects of war.

"The people out there are really surprised," said Armani.

"Whenever they see the City bus, they are asking the same story. 'How come Manchester City send a football bus out there?' "

According to Armani, interest in Manchester City is now growing fast in his country where there is a huge interest in football.

And with more than 400 members, it now has one of the largest Manchester City supporters' club outside the UK.

"It's fantastic," said Armani. "It feels like the whole country is turning blue."
Click to expand...
 
Re: Sierra Leone website - updated with Armani's diary p5

AND THE WINNER OF THE SIGNED CITY & SIERRA LEONE SHIRTS IS..........

Many thanks to everyone who bought raffle tickets for the signed shirts.

The draw was made at half time during the Salzburg game by Garry Cook and Armani.

A magnificent £918.00 was raised in total but there can only be one winner and that lucky winner is......"STEVE C" from the Baguley & Brooklands Branch with Blue Ticket 196 (serial No. AC739973)

We'll be contacting the B&B Branch to let Steve know.

Once again many thanks to everyone for their magnificent support.

The latest instalment of Armani's Diary (week 2) is now on the website <a class="postlink" href="http://www.sierraleonemcfc.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.sierraleonemcfc.co.uk</a>
 
Re: Sierra Leone website - updated with Armani's diary p5

1.618034 said:
Article just appeared on the BBC site..

<a class="postlink" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/manchester/hi/people_and_places/newsid_9248000/9248386.stm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/manchester/ ... 248386.stm</a>

Sierra Leone City fan in 'thank you' trip to Manchester


An African football fan has visited Manchester City for the first time since Blues' fans raised money to buy a bus for his team in Sierra Leone.

In 2003, Armani Sheku Kamara was selling sunglasses on a beach when he got talking to City fan Tony Griffiths.

They became firm friends and, with the help of City fans, Tony and Armani have set up a Manchester City football team in the West African country.

Their latest donation, a team bus, was shipped to Sierra Leone in August.

Team bus

Sierra Leone is one of the world's poorest countries. Manchester City, one of its richest football clubs.

Yet, thanks to Tony and Armani, a bond forged on a beach has grown into a true Blue partnership.

Retired police officer Tony Griffiths recalled was in Sierra Leone in 2003 training the country's police force when he met Armani and they started talking football.

"He had the same passion but had no particular allegiance to any club. He soon became a big Man City fan and it's gone on from there."

Since then, Tony has organised years of fundraising by members of the Reddish branch of the Manchester City Supporters' Club.


Manchester City Sierra Leone FC bus
We hit on the idea of a team bus that could double up as a bus for fare paying passengers
Tony Griffiths, founder of Sierra Leone MCFC

It began by collecting unwanted City shirts.

But working together, Tony and Armani have since founded a football team, Sierra Leone MCFC which plays in a local league.

The team also now has its own bus emblazoned with the City badge which was shipped out to Sierra Leone in August.

"We decided that we needed a scheme that they would help them be self sufficient," said Tony.

"So we hit on the idea of a bus that could be used to take them to away fixtures at weekends, but would also double up as a bus for fare paying passengers during the week and create an income revenue for the team."

In August, with the help of Manchester City's City in the Community group, a container full of kit, training gear, laptops and books as well as the bus, was shipped to Freetown.

'Turning blue'

Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries in the world, with an average life expectancy of 38. An 11 year civil war came to an end in 2000.

Tony Griffiths and Armani Kamara
Tony and Armani met on a beach in Sierra Leone

Now, for the first time, Armani has finally been able to visit the home of Manchester City and thank the fans who have helped his countrymen still suffering the effects of war.

"The people out there are really surprised," said Armani.

"Whenever they see the City bus, they are asking the same story. 'How come Manchester City send a football bus out there?' "

According to Armani, interest in Manchester City is now growing fast in his country where there is a huge interest in football.

And with more than 400 members, it now has one of the largest Manchester City supporters' club outside the UK.

"It's fantastic," said Armani. "It feels like the whole country is turning blue."
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

Good to see the media taking a LITTLE interest in a superb story, & I will forgive them the odd little mistake they made in the piece.
 
Re: Sierra Leone website - Signed City & SL Shirt winner p7

This should go on the 'Its not all doom & gloom' section of Russell Howards Good News.

;)
 
Re: Sierra Leone website - Signed City & SL Shirt winner p7

The winner of the signed City shirt and SL shirt, Steve Croft from the Baguley & Brooklands Branch, has very generously donated the signed shirt back to us for auction.

This auction will now take place next Tuesday 7th December at the Reddish Branch meeting 7.00pm Reddish Working Mens Club, Greg Street, Stockport.

For more details visit <a class="postlink" href="http://www.reddishblues.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.reddishblues.com</a><br /><br />-- Fri Dec 03, 2010 3:54 pm --<br /><br />A video of the draw being made for the signed City shirt and Sierra Leone shirt with Armani and Garry Cook at half time during the Salzburg game on Wednesday 1st December can be viewed on the Reddish Blues Facebook page:
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=108082725877326" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/gro ... 2725877326</a>
 
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