Former One Direction star Louis Tomlinson has donated his cherished Doncaster Rovers FC shirt to Grenfell Athletic’s Fabric of the Community project, just hours after attending the funeral of his bandmate Liam Payne.
The emotionally charged gesture was revealed on Thursday, following Wednesday’s poignant service at St Mary’s Church in Amersham, Buckinghamshire.
His donation forms part of a meaningful initiative supporting the Grenfell community.
The project features donated fabrics surrounding the club emblem on football shirts, including materials that survived the devastating Grenfell fire of June 2017.
Its initiative aims to weave the community’s stories directly into the club’s identity through these meaningful fabric contributions.
The special football shirts are set to be released today, incorporating personal items that hold deep significance for both donors and the Grenfell community.
Speaking about his donation, Tomlinson, 32, said: “Wherever I am in the world and I have my Doncaster Rovers FC shirt with me, it reminds me of home.
“When I am touring and I see a member of the audience wearing one, I get a real feeling of home, no matter where I am.”
His personal connection to the shirt highlights the emotional significance behind the donation to the Grenfell community project.
Rupert Taylor, founder of Grenfell Athletic, emphasised the club’s vital role in the community’s healing process.
“Our club was born out of a desire to heal and bring our community ever closer through the power of football,” Taylor said.
He expressed gratitude for those who donated fabrics and shared their stories, adding: “We hope the project offers an additional avenue for healing and a platform for showing how inspirational our community truly is.”
He said: “The hearts and souls of the people of Grenfell are woven into Grenfell Athletic’s DNA, and now they’ll be woven into the club’s shirts, too.”
Professional footballer Héctor Bellerín has also contributed to the project, donating a match-worn Arsenal shirt from his time at the Premier League club.
The Spanish defender has previously shown strong support for the Grenfell community, having pledged over £19,000 to assist victims in the aftermath of the 2017 fire.
These donations represent ongoing community solidarity with Grenfell survivors, as the football club continues to serve as a symbol of unity and healing.
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Payne’s final act of kindness was revealed yesterday in his funeral order of service, which urged mourners to donate to Great Ormond Street Hospital.
The booklet distributed at the service read: “Thank you for attending the service and thank you for all the kind messages received.
“Liam would like you to make a donation. In memory of Liam, we’d like you to consider Great Ormond Street Hospital.”
