BANGOR 1876 skipper Michael Johnston has launched a special initiative to help those less fortunate over the Christmas period.

The former Bangor City, Caernarfon Town and Llandudno standout announced a scheme that is set to benefit the Bangor Cathedral foodbank over the busy series of fixtures over the festive season, which will begin at 1876’s re-arranged Gwynedd League clash with Llanystumdwy on December 21.

Johnston witnessed the success of a similar venture between fans of Everton and Liverpool and has encouraged supporters of the fan-owned club to make this charity initiative to be equally as successful.

More than 14 million people are living in poverty, including 4.5 million children, are understood to be living in poverty throughout the United Kingdom this Christmas, and the number of food banks has soared to 1,200 nationally.

The Bangor Cathedral Foodbank is open from 2pm to 3pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, in the Diocesan Centre, for handing out food packs.

They are entirely dependent on donations, either of food or money and each pack provides three hot meals, as well as breakfast and lunch items, tins of meat meals such as chicken in white sauce, curry or chilli con carne, in addition to items such as tinned fish, pasta sauces, tins of ham or corned beef.

A Bangor 1876 spokesman, said: “We will commence our collections at the re-arranged match with Llanystumdwy on 21 December and will continue for the rest of the season.

“We know how generous you are as fans of Bangor 1876 and we hope that by supporting this appeal we will come together as truly One City.”