GLASGOW, June 1: Thousands of football strips left at Celtic Park in memory of the late Tommy Burns will be shipped to Africa in a bid to help impoverished children, a Scottish charity said on Sunday.

The jerseys, left by mourning fans from all clubs in the Scottish Premier League — including Celtic’s arch-rival Rangers — will be washed before being shipped out to projects in Malawi, South Africa, Zambia and Uganda.

Since first-team coach Burns died on May 15 at the age of 51 years, after losing a battle against skin cancer, Celtic Park has been turned into a vast, multi-coloured shrine.

“All football fans share in the sadness at the death of Tommy Burns,” said a spokesman from the charity, Glasgow The Caring City.

“But through this kind donation, one of Tommy’s many positive legacies will be the coaching of thousands of children to improve their chances of a better, more healthy life.

“Football is a means through which we can help to improve people’s lives.

For the young footballers, there is the added pride of being able to play in good quality, matching tops.”

Burns played with Celtic from 1974 to 1989, had a spell as manager in the mid-1990s and was the club’s first-team coach until his illness — first diagnosed in 2006 — returned earlier this year.

Burns also won eight caps for Scotland and was part of the Scotland international coaching set-up.

Glasgow the Caring City runs a network of football coaching workshops across Africa, which also provides underpriviledged children with health and careers advice as well as education.

“He [Burns] will forever be remembered by us all as a man of true compassion and it is fitting that these shirts will go to help others across the world who are less fortunate,” a spokesman for the Glasgow club said.—AFP