Walsall FC Foundation are delighted to announce RayGray Snacks are continuing their support of the Holiday & Play scheme for the 2025/26 season.
This season’s back of shirt sponsor, RayGray have been a key partner of the club’s official charity in recent years, and the Holiday & Play initiative will subsidise more holiday activities over a 12-month period.
During the recent summer holidays, Holiday & Play supported children on the HAF (Holiday Activities and Food) programme, a project funded by the Department of Education and coordinated by local authorities.
Children who receive free school meals could attend the Soccer Schools from 9am – 1pm for free through HAF, with RayGray subsidising the remaining 2 hours of the day to provide them with a full Walsall FC Soccer Schools experience.
Over the course of the Soccer Schools in July and August, Holiday & Play subsidised places for 50 children each day, reaching a total of 1600 hours of childcare support for families across our community.
Director of RayGray Snacks, Graham Jebb, visited the Soccer Schools alongside Saddlers midfielders Lewis Warrington and Jake Hollman in August.
He said: “It’s great to be invited and to give back. I do feel really good that we can be in a position where we can do something for the kids and do our bit.
“When you see what Walsall FC Foundation are doing, it’s fantastic – there seems to be something here for everybody.”
The Holiday & Play scheme subsidised over 500 places during the 2024/25 campaign, thanks to support from RayGray.
Seven Walsall FC first-team players visited the Soccer Schools during summer, including Aaron Pressley, Harrison Burke, Mason Hancock, Myles Roberts, Jake Hollman, Lewis Warrington and Albert Adomah.
Burke, who is sponsored by RayGray Snacks, worked as a community coach at his previous club Chester, and is proud to be backed by a local company doing so much for the community.
He said: “I feel what RayGray are doing is so important for the community and the individuals themselves. It allows them to enjoy football with a smile on their face.
“Sometimes these children will not understand their situation but believe this is just a free football camp, when in reality a selfless action has helped these kids – which is phenomenal.
“I think the work the Foundation is doing is great. Having worked for a community team I know how much the children love coming in to play and have fun.”
Foundation Director, Adam Davy, added: “Our partnership with Graham, and RayGray Snacks, is now into the second year. Graham speaks so highly of our work and was impressed with what we deliver as a Foundation.
“Off the back of initial discussions, Graham offered to subsidise Soccer School places for local children. His emphasis was for those places to make a difference to the children, and families, who really would benefit from free places on our holiday camps.
“We have been able to reach out to a number of schools, faith centres, community groups and the Council to ensure that we are true to our word, and that of Graham’s request, so the places we donate do go to the correct recipients.
“Through the Holiday & Play scheme we have been able to support children on free school meals, children in foster care and children from local community groups. It is a real pleasure to see something as simple as our Soccer Schools make such a difference and I am grateful of the support from RayGray Snacks.”
Walsall FC Foundation Soccer Schools return to the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium for October half-term, with courses on 27th, 28th, 30th and 31st October. To book your place, please email foundation@walsallfc.co.uk.
