David James in Peterborough. He is wearing a green and white fleece. He has short dark hair and a very short beard and is smiling broadly. Behind him are various gazebos with people sitting or standing underneath them. Wording on a gazebo says "DONATE YOUR BOOTS HERE"Jenny Kirk/BBC
Jenny Kirk, in PeterboroughandKaty Prickett
"Football is a very expensive game now and times are tough for a lot of people," said former England goalkeeper David James.
The former Liverpool, Portsmouth and Watford player was in Peterborough to promote two organisations which try to make football kit more affordable.
He co-founded Football Rebooted, which rehomes second-hand donated boots, and is an ambassador of Goal2Grow, which sells donated football kits for £10 each.
"There are people who want to play football for fun, social, mental and physical benefits who can't access football because of the prohibitive cost," said James.
"To represent my country in the World Cup, the biggest football event in the calendar, it was an honour for me and fortunately, because I did that, it helps me promote football boots as well."
Dave Poulton and David James planting colourful flowers in to a planter outside a church in Peterborough city centre.Jenny Kirk/BBC
Goal2Grow was set up by Peterborough-based Up The Garden Bath in May last year, while James, who grew up in Welwyn Garden City and also played for Manchester City and West Ham, became a project ambassador this March.
He attended a FIFA World Cup 2026 celebration in the city centre, which the community interest company helped organise, with the support of Peterborough City Council and Utilita Energy.
Kez Hayes Palmer, from Up The Garden Bath, said: "This is about more than football.
"This is about community, creativity, sustainability, and showing what is possible when people come together with heart and purpose."
David James wearing a green shirt and yellow trousers standing beside a person dressed as Peterborough United's mascot Peter Burrow. It has a white rabbit head, is holding a large stuffed carrot and is wearing a Peterborough United blue and white strip. Behind are various gazebos with people sitting underneath them. They are in Peterborough city centre.Jenny Kirk/BBC
James, who lives near Peterborough and currently works as a football pundit, helped set up the Football Rebooted project in 2021.
It aims to support families facing financial difficulties by providing access to pre-worn boots.
James said he had donated many boots himself, as had his friends and family.
"What we've realised is first of all on the environmental level, that a lot of football boots get put into landfill, which we need to avoid, and secondly, these boots are reusable," he said.
"I think there's 800 boxes or donation spots we have now in the country."
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Charity 'blown away' by David James' support
Dave, a man wearing all black clothes and a hat, standing next to a woman who works in the shop - wearing a green top and a printed skirt. David James is wearing tan-coloured trousers and a black zipped jacket, Kez Hayes-Palmer wearing a black coat. They are all standing outside the Unity store showing a thumbs up to the camera.
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Dave Poulton and Kez Hayes-Palmer are stood outside the Unity store in Queensgate. Inside looks busy and has lots of different independent businesses/ stalls inside. Dave is tall and wears a black hoodie with Up the Garden Bath branding. He has brown hair and some facial hair. Kez has long blonde hair, pink lipstick and a silver nose ring. Her nails are painted pink and she is holding up a blue sign for Up the Garden Bath.
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Volunteers, in high-vis jackets, standing around one of the planters
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David James
Related internet links
Football Rebooted
Up the Garden Bath