Fun-day raises £1,900 for charities – Welford Victoria Football Club

Welford Victoria FC raised £1,900 for PSC Support, Hope Against Cancer and The Bradley Lowery Foundation at its fundraising football fun-day on Sunday 3rd July. Each of the three charities will receive a donation of £634 (rounded up to the nearest £1).

The main event was a game between three WVFC Representative XIs and Celeb FC, a team of celebrities and ex semi-professionals refereed by Daventry MP and Conservative Chief Whip Chris Heaton-Harris, who recently completed his fortieth season as a referee.

Club Chairman Barrie Dowsett was ecstatic to have raised so much money. “Sunday was the culmination of months of effort by the club’s committee – all volunteers – and a load of hard work by locals on the day who all came together to make a fantastic event for everyone. I must also thank Chris for so kindly giving up his time to be our referee; it’s great that despite holding an important government role he’s still able to support events in his constituency”.

Chris Heaton-Harris was delighted to have been able to support the event. “It was an absolute privilege to referee for Welford Victoria FC’s Charity Fun-day and a huge congratulations to all involved for raising such an impressive amount of money. After the hectic last few months as Chief Whip; putting my boots on and heading out onto the pitch is the perfect way to take your mind off the madness of Westminster! I look forward to attending many more local events in the future and well done to everyone again”

Simon Stevens, club secretary, also wanted to thank the team’s sponsor Myriad Associates and Hinckley’s Bond Street Distillery, whose pop-up bar proved a huge hit. “We’re incredibly grateful for the support of local businesses who sponsor us, either for kit or for specific events. We’re trying to be a little different here: we like to win matches, of course, but we’re far more interested in being able to do a little good – whether for charities as we did on Sunday, or by providing a friendly and welcoming environment for people to enjoy football”