Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice vs Legends from the 1982 European Cup winning squad

[martin@ardenley]

I am Community Fundraiser for Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice and I am currently working with a Hospice/Villa supporter to put on a Charity Football Match.

The match will be held on Sunday 14th October 2012, in Kings Heath and will feature a Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice team, taking on legends from the 1982 European Cup winning squad. This is the third year running that we have held this event, and last year it raised a fantasic £10,000 for the Hospice. We are aiming to make this year bigger and better, as well as hoping it will be the first time that the St Mary’s team actually beat the Old Stars!

Thank you in advance for your support.

Jen Boilestad
Community Fundraiser
0121 472 1191
jen.boilestad@bsmh.org.uk

[martin@ardenley]

PRESS RELEASE

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Aston Villa Lions and  Legends to take on Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice

A team of young upstarts from Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice are hoping it will be third time lucky when they take on a squad of footballing legends from Aston Villa.

For the past two years, a variety of former Villa players have managed to deny victory to the Hospice team, which is made up of friends of Kings Norton charity supporter Kieran Lavin.

But after losing only 3-2 in 2011, the amateurs are feeling more confident than ever. This year’s exciting showdown, whose proceeds will be donated to the Selly Park-based Hospice, is set to take place at the West Midlands Travel Stadium in Wheeler’s Lane, Kings Heath, on Sunday, October 14.

Kick-off between Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice and Aston Villa Lions and Legends is at 2.30pm.

Kieran said: “For the past two years, the charity match has gone from strength to strength and in total has raised close to £20,000 for the Hospice, which is amazing.”

He added: “In addition to seeing some of the top former Villa players in action, this year’s event promises to be a great family afternoon, with a range of entertainment on offer including an inflatable assault course, wellie wanging and go karts.”

Hospice fundraiser Jen Boilestad said: “Kieran’s done some amazing work in pulling together the annual charity match yet again, so on behalf of our patients and their families I would like to say a big thank you.

“We’re really excited about this year’s event and we’re sure the Hospice team has a strong chance of beating the Villa legends!”

Kieran organised the first match between the Hospice and former Villa players in April 2010 after witnessing the care provided by the charity to one of his close friends.
 
With around 500 people turning out on that glorious spring afternoon to watch a great game of footie a total of £8,200 was raised for the Hospice.
 
In 2011 the match had a new focus in the form of the Michael Cuddy Memorial Trophy, set up in celebration of the life of one of the Hospice team members, Michael Cuddy, who died suddenly in June 2010.

Tickets for the match are £4 each are available from the Hospice on 0121 472 1191 or can be bought on the day. Children under 12 enter free.

[Chris Smith]

Thanks for posting this, if I'm well enough I will definitely get along to it.

[The Left Side]

Great stuff, wish I could be there.

[The Adventurer]

St. Mary's do an absolutely fantastic job & will always have a special place in my heart. I'll definitely be there.

[martin@ardenley]

Bump - Just a reminder

It's only a week and a half until the Charity Football Match