Jack the kit man's charity skydive

Jack Northover did a 14,000ft naked skydive for charity

Rochdale Football Club’s kit man, Jack Northover, did a naked skydive last Friday (28 May) to raise money for the club and Factor 50, a cancer charity.

After the team reached the League Two Playoff final in 2008, he made a pledge to take the plunge if the club achieved promotion. Despite ‘Dale missing out during the Wembley season he did not have to wait much longer to get his kit off.

The 57-year-old from Castleton is hopeful of raising over £2,000, although not all the money has been collected yet.

Rochdale Online caught up with him to find out how he feels after plummeting 14,000ft with nothing to protect his modesty but some comical underwear in the design of an elephant trunk.

Asked how it went, he said: “It was very cold.” On landing he then realised that the elephant was no more. “I lost it on the way down. It’s probably in someone’s garden now.”

Having only just “warmed up” five days since the jump, Jack is unfortunately full of cold now, but has plenty of time to recover before returning to the club on 14 June, ready to sort out over 50 boxes of new kit.

This particular skydive had previously been cancelled due to bad weather, but Friday was not the first time he had done it. “I did the first one for charity in the 1970s and have already done 18,” he revealed. “But this one was at 14,000ft and before it was at 4,000ft with a jumpsuit on.”

Although none of the players were there to witness his plunge, they sent him texts after viewing his exploits on television.

Questioned over whether he was the most famous kit man in the country he replied: “I could be. There were four or five camera crews there.” However, he keenly emphasises his friendships with other kit men throughout the leagues. “I’ve been out with them a few times. They’re good lads.”

What would he do next season if Rochdale were to achieve an unthinkable consecutive promotion? “I’ll have to think about it,” he said “because there’s not much chance of getting any of the other lads up there.”