Wes Brown among football stars and celebrities set to kick off for annual charity match in Oswestry
Television and football stars including a Champions League winner will be heading to Oswestry for the third annual charity football match.
In recent years, £11,000 has been raised in memory of Zackery Dell, who was born in May 2014, but passed away minutes later.
One of the organisers, Graham Sutton, was approached by his parents Gemma and Oscar, and the first charity football kicked off in 2015.
It was in conjunction with Emmerdale star Danny Miller who raises money for the Once Upon a Smile, who provide support to families who have a child suffering a serious illness.
The money has been spilt between Danny’s charity and the Zackery Dell Tribute Fund in aid of Hope House, with Gemma also raising awareness of the neonatal service provided by the charity.
The specialist neonatal team at Hope House provide practical and emotional support to families whose unborn babies have been diagnosed with a life threatening condition, who are stillborn or who die shortly after birth.
A host of actors from Emmerdale and Hollyoaks have joined forces with former footballers, including former Manchester United defender Wes Brown to take on team of local Oswestry footballers.
After raising substantial amounts in recent years, Mr Sutton is hoping for another big crowd to raise at least £6,000 from this years event.
He said: “Hopefully we can get between 600 and 800 people to come out and support these brilliant charities.”
Currently 450 tickets have been sold for the big event, which will be at The New Saint’s Park Hall home The Venue on Sunday July 2, kicking off at 2pm.
Among the celebrity and footballer side will be former Manchester City goalkeeper Carlo Nash, Neil Wainwright, formerly of Wrexham, Richie Wellins, former Stoke City defender Danny Higginbotham and Wes Brown.
Former X-Factor star and I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here contestant Jack Quickenden is also among the line-up, as is This is England actor Thomas Turgoose.
The celebrity side will be out for revenge, after going down 7-1 and 7-0 in recent years.
A children’s tournament before the main match, as well as a bouncy castle, and tickets are £8 for adults, £4 for children and children under three go free.
Tickets cost £8 for adults and £4 for children, while children under three go free.
Family tickets – for two adults and two children – cost £20.
Tickets can be purchased from The Venue or Owens Travelmaster, Beatrice Street, Oswestry.
