St Margaretsbury FC first team with one of their goals, partly funded by Waste King.

The specialist collections, clearance and recycling company, Waste King, has contributed funds towards goals and other equipment at St Margaretsbury Football Club. Its donation – part of the company’s on-going corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitment – was prompted by a request from John Waites, of London-based City Interiors, who is connected with St Margaretsbury Football Club and whose company regularly uses Waste King’s services.

Waste King’s managing director, Glenn Currie, commented: “We spend much of our working lives collecting and recycling things and preventing them going to waste. In a way, our support for St Margaretsbury FC is based on a similar premise because, after 118 years of providing opportunities in its locality for people to play football, it would be disappointing to see such a valuable local resource go to waste because of a lack of up-to-date resources.”

The football club, based in Stanstead Abbotts – and originally called ‘Stanstead Abbotts’ when it was formed in 1894 – moved to its current headquarters and changed its name in 1962. The club’s Chairman, Gary Stock, commented: “The club couldn’t enjoy its level of facilities without help from such people as Waste King.”

Comment: In these challenging economic times, it’s encouraging to see any example of CSR – especially when the support or sponsorship is not reciprocal but altruistic. It’s just another example of ‘The Big Society’ – but one for which the Government can take no particular credit.