HUNDREDS of rugby boots, balls, tops and training outfits will be heading from York to Uganda tomorrow, after a remarkable response to an expat's appeal for help.

Robert Powell, who grew up in Poppleton, wanted help kitting out the teams of youngsters he works with in Entebbe, on the shores of Lake Victoria.

He appealed through The Press last month and then through Radio York, and said the response to both had been excellent.

He has come back to York to visit his parents and to collect the donations, and tomorrow he will fly back to Uganda with more than 100 pairs of boots, more than 50 tracksuits, 22 gym skirts for a local girls' orphanage, two dozen rugby shirts, around 15 pairs of shorts, more than 40 pairs of socks, sports bras for the girls' team and 12 rugby balls.

He said: "I had a few reservations for a few days after the appeal, but then it just clicked and donations came in."

He said donors included Poppleton Tigers FC members, the Poppleton Mums group, a woman in Edinburgh who saw the appeal on BBC York's Facebook page, parents at Pocklington School, Tesco at Clifton Moor and many Poppleton residents. Rhino Rugby also donated six new balls and West Bridgford Rugby Club, who Mr Powell's brother plays for, gave 19 shirts.

Mr Powell said: "I still have kids turning up for training in Entebbe in bare feet. I want to ensure every player who comes to play rugby in Entebbe from the age of ten upwards has a proper pair of boots to wear, and a pair of shorts, socks and a top.

"I think we have now completely achieved that objective, so I am happy and I want to say thank you to everyone."

Mr Powell thanked Press readers and Radio York for their help in spreading the word.

He is now setting his sights on collecting more balls and training equipment and on helping to raise £20,000 to set up a community rugby centre for local youngsters on land donated by the Mayor of Entebbe, possibly through a sportsman's dinner.

Mr Powell attended Nunthorpe Grammar School but left York in 1983 to join the military, then moved to Africa with the United Nations in 2001, and has been in Uganda since 2009. He was persuaded back into coaching after losing a golf bet, and has been helping the teams improve since then.

Entebbe Rugby Club has a local union team known as the Mongers; two ladies/girls teams known as the Sharks; a recently-formed under-19s team called the Whales; and a tag rugby team from local school children who train and play on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

The teams currently share a football pitch with Entebbe Secondary School.

Anyone who wants to help Mr Powell should email rugbybootsuganda@yahoo.com

Alternatively, donations can be dropped off at Dock’s Trading Post, opposite Acomb fire station in Boroughbridge Road, which has agreed to act as a collection point.