12:55pm Sunday 28th September 2008
By Helen Korn
BURNLEY FC fans snapped up 3,000 of the club’s branded condoms in under five minutes after their victory against Preston on Saturday.
The Durex condoms, which were sponsored by the club, were being handed out for free as part of a sexual health campaign led by Condom Collective and other partner agencies.
And fans of all ages were not ashamed to be given the claret packets - with some even grabbing handfuls from the volunteers’ boxes.
Gareth Beck, a young men’s sexual health worker who led the initiative, said he was delighted with the fans’ response and would be back to hand out more at selected home matches.
He said: “This is the first time this has been done nationally - and it’s been brilliant because it’s making condoms more acceptable and accessible to young people in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale.
“The people who attended this match are our target group in the community so it’s been fantastic that the club has come on board with us.
“STDs are most common among 16-24 year olds - the people who came to this game.”
Darren Bentley, spokesman for Burnley FC said: “Due to the reported rise in STIs, there needs to be a radical and creative approach to 'normalising' condom use and we hope that as well as seeing the fun side, supporters will recognise the serious message behind using Burnley FC-branded condoms."
Susan Moore, leader of Earby Youth Club, was one of the volunteers handing out the condoms said she simply didn’t have enough to go round.
She said: “Young people wanted them - they weren’t ashamed at all - they were asking me for them!”
Clarets fan Steve Connor, 25, from Chorley, said: “It’s a great idea because it’s important to have safe sex.”
Jillian Barnes, 47, from Barrowford, said: “Giving them to people outside the football ground is a really good idea - I’m getting some for my 21-year-old son!”
Neither Burnley Football Club or the Condom Collective made any profit from the initiative.
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