Donkeys with their donated Arsenal socks – credit, Redwings via SWNS
Socks are the pinnacle of lousy gifts—used socks so much the worse—but for these horses and donkeys they’re every child’s dream.
That’s because these fancy red socks were donated by the players of the recently-crowned-title-winners, Arsenal FC.
The footless socks have been used as dressings for horses and donkeys recovering from surgery and to keep insects off any sore legs at their Horse Hospital in Norfolk.
Nicola Knight, from Redwings, said the donation was “one of the more unusual” the organization had received, but would nevertheless be a “game changer.”
“The socks are being used for anything from protecting our rescued residents’ sensitive legs from flies to holding their vet bandages in place,” Knight told Faye Martin of the Southwest News Service.
A donkey wearing donated Arsenal socks – credit, Redwings via SWNS
“They’re also protecting them from headcollar rubs and even holding back the hair on their legs while they get their feet trimmed. They are a fantastic bit of kit and we’re so pleased that Arsenal reached out to us.”
Contrary to American preconceptions, English football can be a brutal old game, and while a jersey or pair of shorts might survive to be washed and worn again, socks rarely survive the flurry of cleats, kicks, and sliding challenges endured over 90 minutes of the beautiful game.
Michael Lloyd, Arsenal FC’s Operational Sustainability Manager, came up with the idea of donating the players’ unwanted or too-used-to-use socks and contacted Redwings.
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“We’re always looking for ways to reduce waste and make a positive impact through the actions we take as a club, and it’s great we can work together to repurpose our old kit towards the care and wellbeing of animals,” said Lloyd.
Arsenal field 11 players every game, and can bring on as many as 5 substitutions. Having just played 63 games across all competitions during a season that saw them lift the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years and reach the UEFA Champions League final, the team may have worn and tossed as many as 1,000 pairs of socks.
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But Redwings is responsible for more than 1,500 horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules, with over 1,000 in their daily care.
Additionally, these animals need 2 pairs, not one. Undoubtedly many more bales of socks will be showing up at Horse Hospital, as the team—now back among Europe’s elite—seek to defend their title when football resumes in August.
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