A SUPPORTERS forum is asking football fans to share a little love with their local community ahead of Valentine’s Day and take a donation for the Middlesbrough Foodbank to the home game against Reading.

‘Fans Supporting Foodbanks’ is an initiative that has been embraced by a number of clubs, including Newcastle United and Celtic, and is being launched nationally over the next few months.

With the support of Middlesbrough Football Club, the Forum has arranged a donation point close to the North Stand turnstiles for dry and non-perishable foods or cash donations.

Caroline Walker, chairwoman of Middlesbrough Supporters Forum, said: “When it comes to uniting around a good cause football fans are second to none.

“I know that Boro fans will rally around to donate to the foodbank to ensure that its stocks are replenished and it can carry on helping local people going through a tough time."

Soroush Sadeghzadeh, project manager at Middlesbrough Foodbank, said: “I’ve always been amazed by the generosity of people who support the work of foodbank. We solely rely on donations in order to provide emergency food for local people in crisis, and I’m really excited about this opportunity.”

A van will be parked at the stadium from noon this Saturday until just before the 3pm kick-off.