Louis Tomlinson made a generous contribution to the Fabric of the Community initiative made by Grenfell Athletic with his donation of a personal treasured shirt: “The community-driven football club has designed a special kit from clothing belonging to survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire, mixed with donations from public figures and celebrities.

The Grenfell tragedy, that took the lives of 72 in June 2017, shook West London to its core. Grenfell Athletic was founded to help those survivors and the community to rebuild from the unifying influence of football.

The Doncaster Rovers FC shirt is now up for grabs courtesy of Tomlinson, aged 32. In doing so, he declares a strong personal affinity for both the team and the shirt itself.

One Direction On The Road Again (Sheffield) One Direction () — vagueonthehow from Tadcaster, York, England, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

“Wherever I am in the world and I have my Doncaster Rovers FC shirt with me, it reminds me of home, he revealed,” he said. “When I am touring and I see a member of the audience wearing one, I get a real feeling of home, no matter where I am.

Tomlinson, a lifelong Doncaster Rovers fan, has even played for the South Yorkshire club in the past, so he has had a further tangible connection with the team.

A Premier League football shirt signed by Arsenal star Héctor Bellerín has also been donated after the ex-Arsenal defender once again put his hand in his pocket and towards the Grenfell cause. Bellerín had previously given a whopping £19,000 in aid to benefit survivors of Grenfell.

The kit comes in a very unique design: the perimeter area is able to carry an emblem of Grenfell Athletic, symbolizing the unity of the community and its resilience. The team aims to introduce the new kit during the 2024/2025 season, with both men’s and women’s teams proudly sporting it.

Founded by Rupert Taylor, the owner of Grenfell Athletic, he commented on the mission of the club: “Our club was born out of a desire to heal and bring our community ever closer through the power of football.”

This initiative reminds us of how sports and shared passions can bring people together in the face of adversity, giving hope and strength to everyone.