Pink boots for striker in cancer fund-raiser

FORMER Athletic ’keeper Les Pogliacomi is back home in Adelaide working for the family business.

BOOT manufacturers Puma have handed Athletic’s fund-raising drive for the Victoria Breast Unit at the Royal Oldham Hospital a boost.

They are providing striker Dean Windass with a pair of pink boots to wear in next month’s live televised game against Leeds United when Athletic will be wearing a pink kit to support the fight against cancer.

Athletic’s special one-off playing strip, along with Windass’s pink boots, will then be auctioned off on the club’s website to raise money for the excellent cause.

Athletic have been amazed by the publicity generated by the decision to wear a pink kit.

It has also captured the attention of the foreign media as it was mentioned in the New York Times no less.




ATHLETIC welcomed home two former favourites on Saturday with Les Pogliacomi and Paul Rickers returning to Boundary Park.



Goalkeeper Pogliacomi was back from Australia to attend a wedding in Manchester and decided to take in the game against Northampton Town.

The 32-year-old’s career was cut short by a serious knee injury.

He returned to Australia 12 months ago for major surgery. Unfortunately it failed to cure the problem and he has been forced to quit professional football.

Pogliacomi still plays, in a local amateur league in Adelaide, where he works for the family brick business, something he had long viewed as a future career path.

He admits it has been a culture shock as he had never previously driven a lorry or fork-lift truck.

Midfield man Rickers, who retired from playing at the end of last season, was back to see former team-mates.

He played for both Athletic and Northampton during his career and, like Pogliacomi, is also working outside football, as a van driver.