FOOTBALL and rugby shirts from Rochdale scored high with boys in a children’s home in Goa.

The shirts and other sports kit were hand-delivered to the home by Whitworth couple Darren Tyson and Karen Mercer.

They returned last Friday having spent two week on the island, during which they made several visits to the youngsters at the St Joseph’s home. Around 80 boys, many of them orphans, live in the Catholic-run home.

Darren said: "We took an extra suitcase and it weighed 22 kilos, as well as footballs which we packed flat and blew up when we got there. We must have taken 50 shirts in all, including two full team kits, one of them from Hornets.

"That was great as it means the boys can form two sides in team colours."

Darren and Karen came by chance upon the children during a previous holiday in Goa.

Inspired by the youngsters’ love of football – and the fact they are grateful for the smallest gift – the couple returned to Rochdale and appealed for donations of sport kits to take on their next visit.

Although cricket is the passion of most other people in India, football is the former Portuguese colony’s first love, especially among the children.

The couple launched their appeal from their local pub, the Birches in Market Street, where a lot of items were brought in.

They also received strips from Whitworth Valley Football Club and 15 new shirts from Hornets.

The boys were thrilled to replace their tops and soon afterwards Darren and Karen, who live in Tonacliffe Road, were invited to return and watch them play football in their new shirts.

Although the home receives government funding of 200 rupees per boy (about £2.20), the total cost of food, education and health care adds up to 11,340 rupees per child a year, so much more money has to be raised.

Darren said: "The home is open to all boys aged from eight to 13, irrespective of caste, creed or religion.

"Priority is given to orphans, followed by those from very poor families or broken homes. Some of them are very sad cases.

"I told the Father in charge that some of the children must need special counselling.

"He said the brothers did what they could and it was their vocation.

"Brother Jacob, the director of the home, gave me a letter of thanks to pass on to Hornets and said he wished everyone in Rochdale a happy and prosperous 2008."

He added: "I don’t know when we’ll be back in Goa again but we will keep in touch."

Hornets chief executive Peter Whitehead, who gave the rugby shirts to the couple to take to Goa, also wants to keep informed of the boys’ progress.