Footballers Sam Siggins and Aiden Grace want coffee fans to support local

TSL stars Sam Siggins and Aiden Grace hit the road on their bikes to visit 20 Hobart coffee shops — and they want you to visit one, too.

TSL player Sam Siggins with L-R Thor Boscott, Sam Williams, Jaythan Poulson and Aiden Grace. TSL players Sam Siggins and Aiden Grace have started a movement to get people to support their local coffee shops. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

STATE League football stars Sam Siggins and Aiden Grace are brewing up a whole “latte” love for the local coffee industry with a movement they call Sippalife.

It’s about getting out and supporting your local coffee shop and baristas to help the cafe sector bounce back from the coronavirus shutdown.

Sam, of TSL club Lauderdale, and Aiden, from Glenorchy, and some mates mounted up for a bicycle ride around Hobart to visit 20 coffee shops to promote their cause with a perfect blend of moral and financial backing in mind.

“Aiden and I came up with the idea to support our small local coffee businesses around Tasmania because it has been so hard to go out and buy a coffee,” Sam said.

“It’s a big part of people’s lives, to go out and have a coffee and catch up with friends.”

The pair connected their cause to mental health organisation SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY in the wake of imposed social isolation and its consequences.

“It’s important to speak up if you are struggling,” Sam said.

“To any who is, we would encourage them to go out and catch up with a mate and have a coffee.

“Also, the coffee shops have been struggling financially and to get customers in, so we are trying to get people to go out and have a coffee at their local coffee shop and support them.”

Connect with Sam and Aiden’s coffee cause on Instagram at @Sippalife.