Coventry provide kit to refugee camp in Iraq

In a touching gesture, the club decided to fly out 30-boxes worth of kit to Iraq's Darashakran refugee camp that was built to house 13,000 refugees fleeing the Syrian civil war.

Coventry chairman Tim Fisher initiated the scheme after witnessing the conditions of the camp first-hand on a visit following a business trip.

He told 'Sky Sports News': ''I was terribly shocked by the conditions in the camp but was uplifted when I saw the positive impact football was having on the community.''

''The United Nations clearly recognised the power of the 'beautiful game' and initially built a small five-a-side pitch in the camp to ensure that minds and bodies remain healthy.''

"The refugees have responded by forming their own leagues and competitions but the one thing they can't organise is the provision of kit and equipment.''

"That's where Coventry City decided we could play our part. As a community club, we wanted to support this effort and so assembled as much match-day and training kit as we could to send to Darashakran.''

"When I visited the camp, my heart went out to all of those Syrian people who have been forced to flee their country because of the war that's raging there. They may be safe from the fighting now but the conditions in the camp are extremely challenging - to put it bluntly they are living in the most appalling conditions.''

"But in the midst of all this deprivation a simple football pitch has become the camp's focal point and has had a remarkable impact on the community. It is clear that the joy of sport combined with the thrill of football is providing much needed respite."