Villa Announce Home Kit Launch

AVFC promo (used with permission):

Fab forwards Darren Bent and Gabby Agbonlahor face the most important test of their lives – as they look to net £100,000 for Villa charity, Acorns, and St Basils, a charity supported by our new Official Main Club Sponsor, Genting Casinos.

Villa’s dynamic duo will be joined in the football challenge at Star City, Birmingham’s famous leisure and entertainment centre, on Tuesday July 19, by fellow first team stars Marc Albrighton and Nathan Delfouneso.

‘This is an exciting moment for us being part of the launch of Villa’s home kit and helping raise monies for two worthwhile charities,’ said Peter Brooks, Deputy Chairman of Genting Casinos, the company that is arranging the competition.

‘This is also an exciting moment for Villa fans. We want them to come down to Star City to join us, be amongst the first to see the fabulous new kit and cheer their heroes.

‘There will also be an opportunity for them to win Villa merchandise.’

Acorns Children’s Hospice and St Basils, which will spilt the prize money, will hope that the worthy causes and the support from the fans will lift the players sufficiently to be accurate with their mark.

Villa has been supporting Acorns since 2006. Established in 1988, Acorns Children’s Hospice has been offering care for life limited and life threatened children and young people, and their families, across the heart of England.

Acorns is the only organisation that provides this level of care to these vulnerable youngsters.

It supports nearly 600 children and 800 families, including those who are bereaved, providing a vital lifeline for these families who would face a much tougher challenge coping alone.

St Basils is an inspirational and cutting edge charity. Since the charity was established in Birmingham in 1972 with just one night shelter, they have grown to have 27 accommodation projects and 363 bed spaces across North Worcestershire and the West Midlands, providing supported accommodation for young people aged 16 to 25.

Around 4,000 young people a year access St Basils’ range of support services which include housing aid and advice; family mediation; peer educators; learning skills and work; advice and guidance on education, employment and training.

Record-signing Bent said: ‘People will look at the size of my transfer fee when I joined Villa and appreciate the weight of expectation on my shoulders at the time.

‘I was always confident because I live and breathe goals – that’s what I do for a living and I thrive on taking chances.

‘In terms of pressure, this challenge is right up there with any I’ve faced because myself and the other lads are attempting to raise a massive amount of money for worthwhile charities and one very close to the heart of the club.

‘I visited Acorns on my first day at Villa and was really hit by the warmth of the place and the generosity of the people there – people who give their time for very sick children.

‘It would mean the world to me to hit the target. I’ll be giving it everything I’ve got.

‘The great thing is, if I don’t manage it, there are the likes of Gabby, Nathan and Marc – who all certainly know where the target is.’

‘Genting staff from our three casinos in Birmingham have taken St Basils to their heart,’ said Peter Brooks.

‘They have organised events, taken part charity walks and given up a lot of their personal time to support the charity and raise thousands of pounds in the last year. I am sure they all will be rooting for the Villa stars to hit the mark.’

Villa fans are invited to witness the unveiling of the new home kit, cheer on the stars and compete for a chance to win prizes from 6.30pm onwards.