A POPULAR community football club is celebrating 10 years of fundraising after netting a charity partnership with an African prison soccer team.

North Wales Dragons did not to let the Coronavirus pandemic stand in the way of their efforts to raise much-needed funds for charities across the UK and abroad.

Made up of players aged from 16 to 65-years-old, the club came together a decade ago for a charity soccer match and have been together ever since, highlighting the importance of sport and exercise in creating a positive environment.

Co-founder Chris Roberts said that while 2020 has been “hugely challenging” there have been positives for the Dragons.

“Since the turn of the year we have made huge strides, though of course the COVID-19 pandemic has had an effect,” he said.

“We had visited universities, attended charity events and even had the opportunity to attend Celtic Park in Glasgow, to find out more about how a top-flight football club deals with social conscience.

“The team also played in a match to raise awareness of men’s mental health awareness in Leeds and attended a diversity fashion show in Manchester.”

Other progress includes a new collaboration with Bangor University Sports Centre, the creation of the North Wales Dragons Women's team, and donations to local foodbanks, hospitals and cancer and children’s charities.

They also formed a partnership with Hearts of Ruiru Sports FC, a club with players drawn from a prison and community in Nairobi, Kenya, and will be delivering memory workshops to dementia sufferers when it is safe to do so, with social distancing measures in place.

Mr Roberts added: “There are many reasons for us to be positive about the future after what has been an unprecedented few months.

“For anyone out there who needs us; if you are struggling, need someone to talk to or want to work together with North Wales Dragons to help make a difference, please get in touch.”

For more information, visit the website www.northwalesdragons.co.uk or email chris@northwalesdragons.co.uk