From Africa with shirts! SPORT: Football ace brings competition winners together.

Byline: Cara Simpson

FOOTBALL legend John Barnes signed autographs for youngsters at a school in Coventry.

The former England winger, now manager of Tranmere Rovers, appeared at St Bartholomew's CE School, in Ernesford Grange, yesterday accompanied by Binium Adisu, an 11-yearold from Ethiopia. Binium won the Score Ethiopia kit exchange competition to design a football strip for a school in England and flew 4,000 miles for the occasion.

The pair visited pupils at the Bredon Avenue school to swap football kits which had been designed as part of the national competition, which is run in partnership with Wash and Go.

The finalists were printed in the Telegraph and readers voted for the winning entry, which was designed by Chloe Alsop, aged 11.

Her imaginative design was made into a kit and exchanged with the one Binium had designed. Chloe, now an Ernesford Grange Secondary School pupil, was invited back to St Bartholomew's for the handover, along with former classmates.

The football strips will be sent to Binium's school in the town of Lalibela, Ethiopia.

John Barnes, Score Ethiopia ambassador, has visited Ethiopia to see for himself the passion African children have for football. He said: "The country truly has a footy-mad culture. Score Ethiopia is a superb way to use football to deliver muchneeded basic facilities to the Gonder region such as football kits, while also providing for children here.

"Chloe's design skills might even be called upon by Coventry City FC to design their season's home kit."

The Score Ethiopia campaign raised awareness of the need for water amenities, football facilities and schools in Ethiopia.

Teacher Emma Whittle said Barnes's visit had a great impact on the school.

She said: "John Barnes spent a long time signing their autographs and having his photo taken with them."

CAPTION(S):

ON THE BALL... John Barnes with Chloe Alsop and Binium Adsin and pupils from St Bartholomews School.