Charity football match raises £2,800 for Mayor’s Homelessness Fund.

Charity football match raises £2,800 for Mayor’s Homelessness Fund.

A charity football match between homelessness charity Emmaus Mossley and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) Tameside has so far raised £2,800 for the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Homelessness Fund.

 

 

On Sunday 8 September, more than 500 people turned out to support the Emmaus Vs GMP Tameside Charity Football Match at Seel Park in Mossley. The Emmaus Mossley team, which included Mayor Andy Burnham along with former professional footballers Daniel Nardiello and Guy Branston, mostly consisted of formerly homeless people who are now supported by the charity.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “The support given by Emmaus Mossley and Greater Manchester Police, to raise vital funds to help end rough sleeping in Greater Manchester, is fantastic.

“There’s lots of work going on across all boroughs in Greater Manchester supporting the single initiative to end rough sleeping in the city-region. Thank you to everyone involved and working hard to make Greater Manchester one of the best places in the world to grow up, get on and grow old.”

The competitive and entertaining game, thanks in part to stadium announcer Alan Keegan, went to a penalties after a 6 – 6 draw at full time. The Emmaus XI came home with the winner’s trophy after a nail-biting penalty shoot-out.

Darren Bateman, community member at Emmaus Mossley and team captain of the Emmaus XI, said: “I’m extremely proud to be a part of this year’s charity match, and even more so as our Emmaus Mossley team triumphed. I’d like to congratulate all the players who took part and say a massive thank you to all the people who attended, supported and volunteered to help out on the day.”

 

Emmaus is Mossley supports formerly homeless people by providing them with a home and work in a community setting. The concept of solidarity, getting involved in volunteering and helping groups in need, is a central ethos of Emmaus and a motivation for those who played and volunteered at the charity match.

Daniel Nardiello, one of the special guest players on the Emmaus Mossley team, said: ‘It was great to be a part of the Emmaus Vs GMP Charity Football Match. I went down to visit Emmaus Mossley a few weeks back and I was blown away, so to be able to play in the game and show my support was a privilege. They whole event was brilliant.”

The charity match, a replay of last year’s event, was organised by GMPs Tameside Division with support from Emmaus Mossley, Mossley A.F.C and Oldham Athletic Community Trust (OACT). Match sponsors included JMW Solicitors LLP, O’Donnell Solicitors and Greater Manchester Police Federation.

PC Steve Naylor from Greater Manchester Police, said: “I want to thank everyone, spectators and players, who took time out of their Sunday afternoon to come and support our event. I would like to pay special thanks to “The Voice of Old Trafford” Alan Keegan who provided his services as stadium announcer for the day, and in my opinion made the day more of a success than we imagined.”

“Special thanks also to our match sponsors and all the local businesses who donated prizes for the tombola and raffle, Jalmac Leisure and One Adventure for supplying the inflatables and climbing wall, and everyone else that offered their assistance to the day. Together we have raised another fantastic amount and I’m so pleased we surpassed last year’s total for such a worthwhile cause.”

All the funds raised at the charity match will be donated to the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Homelessness Fund and specifically the A Bed Every Night scheme. A Bed Every night provides a bed, warm welcome, and personal support for anyone who is sleeping rough or at imminent risk of sleeping rough in Greater Manchester.

For anyone who couldn’t make it on the day but would still like to support the event you can donate online at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/emmausvsgmptameside