£15,000 raised through Charity Matchdays
Saints Foundation took centre stage at St Mary’s Stadium twice in February, raising more than £15,000 to support its life-changing work across Southampton.
Our work was spotlighted at Southampton FC Women’s first-team fixture against Newcastle on Sunday, 8th February, and again at the men’s first-team clash with Charlton this past weekend.
The Foundation’s presence was unmissable, with its logo featured on the front of the men’s first-team shirts, after Principal Partner of both the Club and the Foundation, P&O Cruises, generously donated their front-of-shirt position for the special Charity Matchday. This was proudly on display in front of the St Mary’s fans during Ross Stewart’s goal celebrations.
Paul Ludlow, President of Carnival UK and P&O Cruises, said: “Southampton is our home, and we are incredibly proud to support Saints Foundation and the life-changing work it delivers across the city.
“Donating our front-of-shirt position for this special Charity Matchday is a small way for us to shine a spotlight on this impact and celebrate the thousands of people it supports every year. We hope the increased visibility encourages even more fans to get behind the Foundation and the vital role it plays within our community.”
Funds were raised through a range of matchday activities across both fixtures, with over £15,000 already confirmed. Additional income from £1 of every programme sold is still being counted, while the match-worn shirt auction remains live.
Supporters can bid for one of the bespoke Saints Foundation shirts worn on the pitch by the men’s first team via the Club’s official auction site: https://store.southamptonfc.com/auction/auction/
The matchdays also showcased the impact of the Foundation’s work in hopes of creating a sense of pride among fans that is usually reserved for on the pitch performances.
Participants took on shadowing roles across the Club, gaining behind-the-scenes experience in a range of departments. One young person described it as “the best experience of my life”, while another said: “I want to do this for my first job.”
Participants also served as flag wavers, guards of honour and mascots across the two fixtures.
Last season alone, Saints Foundation supported 6,511 people in Southampton. Across both matchdays, fans heard just some of the powerful stories behind those numbers, shared pitchside, in the fanzones and within hospitality areas.
Stories like Robert’s, who after suffering a serious fall three years ago, rebuilt his confidence and independence through the Foundation’s support — later giving back by taking part in the Big Saints Skydive.
And Erin’s, who struggled with her mental health during the transition from primary to secondary school. Since joining Saints Foundation, she has grown into a leader among her peers and has now secured paid casual roles with the Foundation.
Through visibility, the generosity of partners like P&O Cruises and the backing of Saints fans, February’s Charity Matchdays demonstrated the collective power of the Saints community to change lives across the city.
To celebrate the success, we are SUPERCHARGING Saints Superdraw for the game against Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday 24th February. Do you want to support Saints Foundation and stand a chance to win big?
