Arsenal’s shop window for charity Willow in Welwyn Garden City

Shirt (left) to be donated to Willow. Picture: Arsenal Football Club / David Price. Archant

Fancy wearing the shirt off an Arsenal player’s back?

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Welwyn Garden City's Willow shop was opened by Bob and Megs Wilson in 2015, with local charity beneficiaries pictured left. Welwyn Garden City's Willow shop was opened by Bob and Megs Wilson in 2015, with local charity beneficiaries pictured left.

FA Cup holders Arsenal Football Club will takeover the Willow Charity Shop in Welwyn Garden City on Friday, September 1.

Arsenal retail staff will dress the window and shop floor of the Wigmores South store in the town centre.

A huge selection of Arsenal branded clothing and merchandise, which has been donated by the North London club, will adorn the shop window.

Willow ambassador Theo Walcott has also gifted a shirt to the Welwyn Hatfield-based charity.

The warm-up top was worn by the Arsenal and England striker at a dedicated charity matchday where players donated their day’s wages to the Arsenal Foundation, of which Willow is proud charity partner.

Alongside the club’s generous donations, Arsenal vice-captain and France international defender Laurent Koscielny has personally donated bags of clothing from his own family, all of which will be available on the day.

Plus hundreds of items have been donated by Forever Collectibles, including Arsenal mugs, bags, pin badges, stationery, gnomes and more.

Following in the Emirates Stadium club’s footsteps, the public are encouraged to donate their old kit and memorabilia to Willow to raise much-needed funds to support seriously ill young adults.

On the day, Willow life president Bob Wilson will also be presented with a special framed shirt that celebrates the partnership between the charity and The Arsenal Foundation.

“It’s a huge boost to have Arsenal’s support of Willow’s Charity Shops, bringing much-needed awareness and support to the cause,” said former Arsenal goalkeeper Bob Wilson.

“We rely on the generosity of local people to donate items and volunteer at the shops to help us fund Willow Special Days and encourage our local football supporters to get involved and donate their kit.”

Since becoming the Arsenal Foundation’s charity partner in 2013, Willow has received more than £200,000 from the Foundation, with another £130,000 pledged over the next two years.

The money helps fund Willow’s unique Special Days for young people living with conditions such as motor neurone disease, muscular dystrophy and Huntington’s disease, amongst others.

The Gunners have also hosted many Special Days for young supporters at the Emirates Stadium and their London Colney training ground.

Willow was founded in 1999 by former Arsenal goalkeeper and TV presenter Bob Wilson and his wife, Megs, as a lasting memorial to their daughter, Anna, who died of cancer aged just 31.

To date, Willow has provided more than 14,000 Special Days for seriously ill young adults aged 16 to 40.

• To donate items to any of the four Willow Charity Shops visit www.willowfoundation.org.uk/shops to find shop addresses or to arrange a collection.

Clothing, furniture, electricals and bric-a-brac are all gratefully received.