THREE of the south’s leading football clubs have helped to kick off a major new fundraising initiative called Save Old Soles in aid of air ambulances covering Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Dorset and Somerset.

The campaign, launched jointly by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA) and the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA), aims to recycle old footwear to raise money.

The initiative created by the Air Ambulances’ recycling partner, Bag It Up Ltd, takes used shoes and other footwear and converts them into cash by trading them in Africa, Asia, and other parts of the world.

Players from AFC Bournemouth, Southampton FC and Yeovil Town donated their old football boots during the launch at which they met the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA) helicopter when it landed on the Royal Bournemouth Hospital’s helipad.

Southampton FC spokesman Jordan Sibley said: “Naturally, our players appreciate how important it is to have decent footwear, so we were very pleased to be invited not only to support our local air ambulance, but to help people in poorer parts of the world benefit from our unwanted footwear.”

Both the HIOWAA and DSAA are entirely dependent on public donations and are strongly encouraging individuals, sports teams, schools and businesses to donate unwanted footwear to keep their life-saving helicopters flying.

HIOWAA administration manager Sherie Williams Ellen said: “This initiative is a really easy way for people to raise vitally important funds which will keep our air ambulances flying and saving lives.”

To join the scheme, people can call HIOWAA on 023 8033 3377.