Worcester team in celebrity football match announced as ticket sales gather pace
Howard Lake | 1 July 2008 | News
– Charity football match in aid of Leukaemia CARE set to draw 3000+ crowd to St. George’s Lane
Whether you are a soap fan or a football fan, a celebrity football match that will see stars of top soap, Hollyoaks, take on a team of local lads is sure to provide an extravaganza of entertainment for everyone who attends the event.
Taking place at Worcester City’s St George’s Lane club on Saturday 12 July, the match – expected to draw a crowd of around 3000 spectators – will raise money for locally-based national charity, Leukaemia CARE
Advertisement
The event is being organised by the charity in association with Wyvern FM, Bushwackers and Sin.
Tickets are already selling fast, said Gemma Harris, the charity’s Marketing Officer. “We organised a similar event between Coronation Street and Hollyoaks stars two years ago that was incredibly successful and the people of Worcester have been anxiously awaiting a repeat performance. We’ve already sold many of the tickets and with only a couple of weeks to go we are encouraging anyone who wants to have the chance to see their favourite soap celebrities perform away from their Chester ‘home’ to buy their tickets quickly to avoid disappointment.”
While, due to filming schedules, the Hollyoaks squad has yet to be announced, the local team – the Worcester Allstars – has firmed up its line-up for the day. Headed by captain, Bob Marley, owner of mobile phone company The Phone Works, the team also includes Worcester City Chairman, Dave Boddy and Wyvern Fm Breakfast DJ, Paul Kershaw. Joining them are Brandon Weston, owner of the Glasshouse restaurant and Premier Places estate agency, DJs Dain Taylor and Steve Beck who work at Sin and Bushwackers; Dave Smallman from Worcestershire Health Authority; and Neil Bettridge, who owns Amros Promotional Products.
Local Leukaemia CARE volunteer Ian Micklewright, along with well known local sports personalities, Rick Solvason, Worcester Wolves’ basketball team coach; and former Worcester Warrior and owner of Worcester Wine Co, Nick Baxter make up the team.
Bob said: "We’re all looking forward to taking part in this exciting event and giving the Hollyoaks squad a run for their money. We are also delighted to have the opportunity to take part in an event that will provide a fantastic day out for all the family while at the same time raising much-needed funds for Leukaemia CARE. We know that many of you will be coming along to cheer on your favourite Hollyoaks stars, but we’d really appreciate your support as well so please do come along to the match and root for your local team!"
Gates open at the ground at 1.30pm and the match kicks off at 3pm. Tickets are on sale now – £10 for adults, £5 for under 16s – and are available from the Leukaemia CARE website at
www.raise4leukaemia.org.uk
via a secure online form or via the ticket hotline at 0845 521 3456. Tickets are also available from Worcester City Football Club, Bushwackers and Sin.
– ends –
Notes to Editors:
Leukaemia CARE is a Worcester-based national charity that provides care and support to patients, their families and carers during the difficult journey through the diagnosis and treatment of leukaemia, lymphoma or an allied blood disorder. Leukaemia CARE provides the only dedicated free, staffed 24 hour phone CARE Line for patients and their families that enables people to discuss their feelings, concerns and emotions at such a difficult period of time.
In addition, Leukaemia CARE is heavily involved with patient advocacy and provides information, holidays, discretionary financial support and has a network of Volunteers throughout the United Kingdom to ensure that there is local support wherever a patient and their family live.
For further information, please contact:
Gemma Harris, Leukaemia CARE – 01905 755 977
or
Steve Paddock or Michele Turner, Market Link PR – 01905 726 575
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.