On Tuesday 21st March, 2023, the Anguilla Football Association (AFA,) officially opened its much-anticipated merchandise store. The store is located on the grounds of the Raymond E. Guishard Technical Centre and the merchandise includes sportswear, soccer cleats, hoodies, and National Team Jerseys.
With an aesthetically pleasing modern interior decor and a digital display area, the walls, along with merchandise, are also adorned with portraits of various national male and female players, some of whom were among the first individuals to tour the store. Members of the senior men’s national team were also among the first.
In looking at football development from a holistic point of view, the Anguilla Football Association strives as a member association to provide the tools, facilities and all the resources necessary to aide in football development.
The Merchandise Store was constructed as one of the Association’s objectives of helping to change the culture and improve the standards of football in Anguilla.
“The Merchandise store will allow anyone interested [in] buying Anguilla Football Association products… including jerseys, caps, cups, playing cards, pins, etc to do so,” President of the Anguilla Football Association, Mr. Girdon Connor stated.
“The Store will also give our members immediate access to top quality products and gear such as boots, socks and shin guards,” he said. “Finally, it will provide our members opportunities to display and benefit from the sale of their products in order to generate revenue to sustain and support their programmes.”
“This initiative is in response to the challenges faced by players waiting weeks and sometimes months for shoes and other items that could affect their sports participation. These items are now right at their fingertips,” he said.
President Connor noted that the proceeds from the store will be reinvested into new programmes, new initiatives, to ensure that there is sustainable and continued development for football in Anguilla.
He thanked Cordell ‘Asta’ Niles for the design and initial project phase of the building, Leeward’s Construction who worked so efficiently to complete the project months ahead of schedule, the Anguilla Football Association executive for their constant support, the staff in the Secretariat, the custodians and maintenance team.
The AFA President also thanked special individuals Afia Akbar, Natasha Webster, Denecia Niles, Simonia Williams, Wilson Jno Baptiste, Shelly William and Bonnie Ruan for their tireless efforts in ensuring the store was ready for opening.
The AFA hopes that the Merchandise store will be well supported by clubs, teams, players and the international community who continue to follow and express an interest in football on the Island.
Products in the store will soon be available online.
The current opening hours for the store are: Monday – Wednesday, 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm and Saturday – Sunday, 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm.
