Big Coat Day Launches "Son of Big Coat Day"

5.43.00pm GMT Tue 5th Jan 2010

Big Coat Day may have been hit by the weather on January 1st but they have a job to finish - especially because the weather is so cold!

So Son of Big Coat Day will be held on the January 16th FC United vs Bradford Park Avenue fixture when homeless organisations, Boaz Trust and Mustard Tree will bring their van again for the collection between 1pm and 3pm.

Former United player Lee Sharpe has given his backing and Hollyoaks actor, Carley Stenson, says: "I'll get rooting through my wardrobe." James Nesbitt is also offering support and John Henshaw has once again given us his backing and Justin Moorhouse hopes to publicise the event on air.

Collection Point

AND just so the winter weather doesn't beat them, for those members of the public who wish to donate before the game they are asking them to deliver their donations to Big Coat Day c/o Mustard Tree, 110 Oldham Road Manchester M4 6AG at any time from January 11th to January 15th between 9am and 5pm.

On Big Coat Day the Public were Magnificent

Despite the big freeze, the public nevertheless responded magnificently by donating two tons of winter clothing for the homeless and needy. Representatives of churches, Jewish groups, schools, community centres and workplaces struggled through the ice and snow to get to Gigg Lane. A pensioner from Wigan visiting family nearby arrived to donate two coats and Jobcentreplus staff brought 40 sacks of clothing. Vince Norton, 74, and Mike Norton were the courageous FC fans who volunteered to stand to brave three hours in the freezing cold gathering icicles as well as the donations. They even had a surprise when a driver in a Rolls Royce arrived with two sacks of clothing. Try as they might they couldn't get the Rolls as an additional donation.

Boaz Trust, Director, Dave Smith remarks: "The response was truly amazing, given the freezing weather and that the match had been called off, and says a lot about the way the club is run and the generosity of its fantastic supporters."

Thanks to all our fans and friends and to Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Manchester, XFM radio, Salford City Radio, Peoples Voice Media, Manchester Evening News, Bury Times and the numerous other organisations that publicised the FC United event.