Football clubs in London are being given the chance to win an exclusive training session with Arsenal and England legend Paul Merson.
Decorating and DIY specialist Leyland SDM is giving one lucky club the chance to kick-start the 2021-22 season with one of the sport’s most famous faces.
Not only that, the winning club will also receive a brand new kit sponsored by Leyland SDM.
Merson, who scored 98 goals during a glittering career with Arsenal and is now a Sky Sports pundit, said: “I’m delighted to be involved in this exciting competition.
“I always looked forward to training sessions and I can’t wait to put the winning club through their paces. I will try to make it enjoyable and help to get them ready for their season.”
Clubs can enter the competition by visiting www.leylandsdm.co.uk/trainwithmerson and providing a 200 word overview of why they should benefit from the training session.
The competition is part of Leyland SDM’s Give London a Lift campaign for 2021, which gives London-based charities, community groups, clubs and sports teams the chance to apply for a share of a £10,000 prize pot.
The competition comes months before Arsenal take on Chelsea, with both teams in desperate need of a win. Current Arsenal vs Chelsea prediction show Chelsea winning the London derby, which Merson has commented on quite vocally.
Paul Gerreli, Marketing Director at Leyland SDM, said: “It’s fantastic to have Paul Merson on board to support both Give London a Lift and this exciting training session competition.
“He’s a huge name in the game and training alongside him will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the winners.”
It is the second time Leyland SDM has run the initiative following its successful debut in 2020, which saw 10 good causes benefit from £1,000 worth of DIY materials to spruce up their facilities.
Organisations can apply online each month between May and September and winners will be chosen by a team of judges.
Merson, who was also a fans’ favourite at Aston Villa and Portsmouth, said: “Give London a Lift campaign gives groups in London the chance to revitalise their buildings and facilities. It’s a real boost at a difficult time.”
Leyland SDM has stores in prominent locations across London and stocks everything from paint to tools and electrical wiring to plumbing parts.
Groups can apply for prizes to help them open new premises, recover an existing building from a state of disrepair or any other project which benefits the community.
Applications can be made on the Leyland SDM website – www.leylandsdm.co.uk/givelondonalift – by providing a 200-word overview of what the organisation does, how it benefits the community and how the £1,000 credit would be spent.
Established in 1985, Leyland SDM started trading with a single store in Central London, supplying local tradesmen as a Specialist Decorators’ Merchants with paint and decorating materials.
Today the business has grown to become one of the most recognisable and trusted decorating and DIY retail brands in Central London with stores in some of London’s most prominent locations, including King’s Road Chelsea, High Street Kensington, Shaftesbury Avenue, Victoria, Streatham, Notting Hill and Clapham High Street.
