Whilst Nigeria were crowned Kings of the 2025 Unity Cup at the Gtech Community Stadium, the competition was also a celebration of black heritage, football and shared roots.

Embracing the opportunity to join the celebration, Brentford FC Community Sports Trust was also able to shine a spotlight on the Bee A Hero Blood Donation campaign in the build-up to the Finals Day.

Blood Type Testing

Opening the doors to the Community Stadium Hub in the morning of the Finals Day, the Trust welcomed fans to come and find out their blood type and register to give blood as part of its ongoing work in partnership with NHS Blood and Transplant.

With former Jamaica international Marcus Gayle greeting fans to spread the Bee A Hero message, and the chance to win a signed Brentford shirt, fans engaged throughout the morning with many finding out their blood type and subsequently registering to give blood.

Blood Donors From All Backgrounds

In the UK, an average of 4,300 blood donations are needed every day to meet the demands of our hospitals. Blood donors from all backgrounds are required to ensure there is the right blood available for patients who need it.

Bee A Hero also aims to engage with the Black community. Currently, only 2% of donors in England are Black. 12,000 new Black heritage donors are needed to meet the growing demand for better-matched blood to treat blood disorders such as sickle cell.

Black blood donors ten times more likely to have the Ro and B positive blood types urgently needed to treat the 15,000 people in the UK suffering from sickle cell disease.

Did You Know?

Each blood donation can help save up to three adults or six babies.

Blood can be used to help patients with medical conditions such as anaemia, cancer blood disorders, and those having surgery.

It is still safe to donate blood even if you’ve had a tattoo, piercing or have the sickle cell trait.

Where To Register To Donate

NHS Blood and Transplant is still urgently calling for more people to become blood donors. Now is your chance to Bee A Hero like Marcus Gayle. To register as a blood donor, please click here.