Veteran England footballers to support Farnham hospice in charity match
'This match is a great opportunity for local people to watch a group of elite players.'
A stock image of a football player (Image: Emilio Garcia / Unsplash)
Submitted by Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice
Veteran England footballers over 50 years old will support a hospice in Farnham, Surrey, this weekend by taking part in a charity football match.
The England team, including Mark Bedford, John Bishop and Mark Brady, will be playing a charity match against the Farnham and District Veterans Sunday League on Saturday, March 12 to raise money for local charity Phyllis Tuckwell.
The match will take place at Alton FC, with kick off at 2pm, and entry is by donation to Phyllis Tuckwell.
Dave Hawtin, Farnham and District Veterans Sunday League manager, said: “This match is a great opportunity for local people to watch a group of elite players representing their country right on our doorstep.
“It’s also great to be able to raise much needed funds for such a worthy cause.”
David Lazell, joint manager of the England team, said: “We are extremely pleased to be playing a representative team from the Farnham and District Veterans League.
“They also beat the RAF at the end of last year, so we’re expecting a very close game. We’re delighted to support the vital hospice care provided by Phyllis Tuckwell.
"It is such a deserving organisation and we hope everyone gives generously.”
The Farnham and District Veterans Sunday League started in 1962, and included players and referees from senior football teams.
It has continued in popularity over the years and now includes seven Veterans Divisions, consisting of 39 clubs and fielding 59 teams.
The England veterans first started fielding representative teams in 2009, and includes players from around a dozen different English counties, from Yorkshire in the north to Surrey in the south.
Some players are ex-professional, and most have played a good standard of semi-professional football.
Every year they compete in a Home Nations international tournament against Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, and recent tours have seen games played in the Channel Islands, Denmark, the USA, France, Hungary and Portugal.
England veterans recently enjoyed victories against Northern Ireland, representative teams from both Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire, and the Royal Air Force at the prestigious St. George’s Park.
Entry to the match is by donation to Phyllis Tuckwell. More information can be found by visiting: www.pth.org.uk/farnham-vets-charity-match
Get all the latest news, updates, things to do and more from your local InYourArea feed.
