Swindon Town issue a much needed update on the 6 year old who sent a letter and 26p to striker Harry McKirdy, with the story going global.
For the last few weeks, the League Two outfit had been searching for the young lad named Joe, who said he could not afford to attend matches.
He wrote to the club saying he could not attend matches because his mum “has no money for food” and taped 20p, 5p and 1p coins on a piece of paper, which he asked to give to McKirdy, who hit the headlines last month when he scored against Premier League side Manchester City.
The letter read: “Mummy doesn’t have any money to come to Swindon games because she has no money for food and has to pay for my dinner at school.
“I like Swindon Town Harry McKidy. I will come one day.
“Joe Aged 6 ½.”
📢 | We have received this letter from Town fan Joe, aged 6 and a half.
We’d really love to get in touch with Joe, but we don’t have a return address.
If anyone recognises the writing or thinks they know who Joe is, please email supporters@swindontownfc.co.uk#STFC 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/JFgLgNm2Lz
— Swindon Town FC (@Official_STFC) February 15, 2022
The club have been trying to get in touch with the six-year-old and asked their followers to help.
“We have received this letter from Town fan Joe, aged 6 and a half,” they wrote on Twitter.
“We’d love to get in touch with Joe but don’t have a return address.
“If anyone recognises the writing or thinks they know who Joe is, please email supporters@swindontownfc.co.uk.”
However that was a little while ago now and since then, the club have issued a further statement.
On the 1st of March, they wrote: Last month, Swindon Town received a letter from a six-and-a-half-year-old fan named Joe.
Joe’s letter warmed the hearts of the public, and the goodwill from the local, national and international extended football community has been incredible to see. We would like to express our sincere appreciation towards all those who have reached out and offered to support Joe.
Swindon Town Football Club, unfortunately, have to advise that despite extensive media coverage, we have not been able to locate Joe, and will have to bring the search to a conclusion.
With Joe remaining elusive, any donations and proceeds from the JustGiving page will be used to support children who are in a similar position.
Half of the money will be passed on to the Swindon Food Collective – a local independent food bank that currently feeds c.7500 people per year, of which one third are children – with whom Swindon Town FC recently announced a partnership.
The other half of the money will go to the STFC Community Foundation and will be spent on giving children and families similar to Joe’s, the opportunity to experience a matchday package at SN1. STFC Community Foundation will work in partnership with local schools to identify children and families for this scheme that are experiencing financial hardship. This will allow over 300 children to enjoy a professional coaching session, have a pre-match lunch and watch a first-team match at The County Ground.
Town can confirm that if Joe was to be identified in the future, he, and his family, would be offered tickets to attend a match as a mascot, meet Harry McKirdy, and experience full VIP hospitality at The County Ground. The club would also provide season tickets for Joe and his family for the remainder of this, and next season. This would be funded by the kind donations and proceeds.
You can learn more about the Swindon Food Collective, and the STFC Community Foundation by clicking the links below.
Swindon Food Collective: https://www.swindonfoodcollective.org/
STFC Community Foundation: https://www.stfcfoundation.com/
Twitter users reacted as Swindon Town issue a update on the 6 year old who sent a letter and 26p to striker…
@stfcjosh: Someone on the wind up unfortunately
@PaulD_70: Nice one, classy response to a difficult situation
@PaddyStavros: I agree with the Foodbank idea wholeheartedly, but think the other half should have gone to a Swindon homeless charity. Half of that money would make a lot of difference to a charity to help the homeless. Just my opinion. 👍 PS Respect to the @STFCfoundation, who do a great job and thankfully have the great Foundation Park as a platform these days. 👊🏼👊🏼
@dandesignsgb: Great effort by the club, regardless of all the questions around the validity of the letter, you kept trying. And you’ve raised money for a great cause now. Ultimately no losers in this. Great stuff 👏🏻
@STFClukem: Very pleased to hear all the donations will go to good use 👏
@Lee_FGR: In other words, you realised it was a prank!
@pieman80: Well done Swindon town ❤️
@Brownie977: Good work Swindon. At least a lot of good has come out of it
@reginald_gates: Swindon, you are my second club (I always said there is no second club) Well done to everyone at Swindon Town and wish you every success on the pitch.
@donna2124: Brilliant response, highlights an ongoing problem.. helps those in need, no matter how it began, well done STFC 👏 👍
@ClaireEHJ: Lovely gesture. And what a great way to spend the money x
@Mikeybacon85: Personally feel this is a better outcome than just finding “Joe”
@robstownsend: It was obviously a scam from the beginning but one from which there is a happy ending with people’s generosity going to good causes.
@ChisieWeirdo: My club. Well done!
@RichardBenke1: Regardless of whether Joe was real or a hoax, a lot of people are going to benefit from this whole episode. #STFC
@mendieGK: Awesome work @Official_STFC. Bloody idiots going ‘it was obviously a scam’. Didn’t realise there were so many handwriting experts and detectives on Twitter. Who cares. Look at the positive it’s done
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