Football legends help raise record £9,000 for Willow Wood Hospice

More than 200 local football fans packed into the 6th Annual Willow Wood Hospice Football Night last Friday (26 September), where three Manchester City legends helped raise over £9,000 for the Ashton-based hospice – almost double last year’s total.

The special guests, Joe Corrigan MBE, David White and Brian Horton, entertained the sold-out audience with candid, funny and heartfelt stories from their careers in the game. Hosting the evening was Tameside’s own Roger Dilkes, a former Premier League referee, who quizzed the trio on everything from dressing-room antics to memorable matches, much to the delight of the crowd.

The football night has become one of the hospice’s most popular fundraisers. Over the years it has welcomed a string of well-known players including Martyn Buchan, Peter Barnes, Eamon O’Keefe, Trevor Ross, Ella Toone, Alex Williams MBE and Tommy Booth – all appearing free of charge to support the charity.

Key to securing such footballing greats is Allan Grafton MBE, a former professional goalkeeper and Manchester FA celebrity, who each year works tirelessly behind the scenes to persuade the stars to give their time.

The event is the brainchild of Brian Wild, former Mayor of Tameside and a patron of Willow Wood Hospice, and his long-time friend Chris Smith. Together, they have raised over £40,000 for the hospice since 2013, when Chris’s wife was cared for there.

Brian Wild said: “We’re all volunteers and even the pie and peas for the 200 guests is made in her own home, at her own expense, by Tameside Councillor Denise Ward. We aimed to raise £7,000 but this result is just astonishing. Chris and I are pleased that this money immediately goes towards providing specialist, compassionate and dignified care to patients from Tameside and Glossop with life-limiting illnesses.

“We’ve raised thousands for the hospice over the years, and many people have a real connection with the work the hospice does – it touches almost every family at some point in their lives. The Football Night always sells out early, and the tickets get snapped up. I take my hat off to these sports people that give up their time for free to entertain the 200-plus audience.”

Much of the total was boosted by community fundraising and generous sponsorship from local businesses including Cosmo Bingo (Stalybridge), Bay Freight, Manchester Credit Union, APEX Joinery, Lo-Cost Windows and Hyde Accessible Transport Ltd, among others.

Lucy Ta’ati, Community Fundraiser at Willow Wood Hospice, added: “Without people like Brian and Chris organising these events, Willow Wood would not continue to operate, so we cannot thank them enough.”

Willow Wood Hospice, which provides specialist end-of-life care to patients across Tameside and Glossop, relies heavily on community events like the Football Night to continue its vital work.

L to R: Volunteers Chris Smith, Denise Ward, Brian Wild & Dave McNally.