Last year two teachers from St Anthony’s School in Margate decided to organise a charity 5 a side football tournament.
The aim was to raise cash for The Global Challenge charity to help build a new crossroads school in Uganda, Africa. The event attracted 10 different teams from across Thanet and the surrounding areas and the eventual tournament winners were Spires Academy who beat St Anthony’s School in the final.
The competition raised almost £300 for the charity. Now the two teachers have decided to organise something bigger and better with the help of Margate Football Club.
This year’s event, on March 23, will have a changed format by reverting to an 11’a’side match between staff from Thanet special needs schools and Thanet mainstream schools. Margate FC is sponsoring the event again by giving free use of the grounds.
A Margate FC spokesperson said: “We’re delighted to help support this fantastic event. Hartsdown Park is a fantastic facility and our new 3G pitch has already been home to a number of great occasions since it was laid at the start of the season.
“As a local football club, we take our responsibility to the local community very seriously and are delighted to play host for a good cause and hope everyone has a great evening and maybe even comes back again to visit to watch a game as we hunt for promotion!”
St Anthony’s teacher Luke Evans said: “Playing this year’s event on the full size 3G pitch will make it better for spectators who wish to come along to the match as they can use the standing or seated areas and have full access to the bar for refreshments. It would be good to see as many people as possible at this family orientated event so please put it in to your diaries.”
There will also be live music in the clubhouse by local band Blow.
Luke said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Margate FC for their continued support of this charity event. I would also like to thank Sean Overbury who is a fully qualified FA referee who has volunteered to ref the match and to organise linesman.
“We are lucky in Margate to have such a great community who always pull together for the power of good.”
Stephen Cave, from The Global Challenge Charity, said: “Global Challenge, a Broadstairs based charity, has been supporting a secondary school for some of the poorest children in Soroti Uganda for over 10 years.
“The time has come to build a new school on a new site where more vulnerable young people can access an education as well as have hostel facilities where they can be cared for. Our dream is to “provide the very best possible education possible for the very poorest children” and to do that we need to raise around £300,000.
“So many schools and individuals have caught this vision and are helping us towards that goal. We need more. Could you help or motivate your school to get involved?”
Everyone is welcome to attend the event. Entry to the game is free, access to the live music in the clubhouse is £5. There will also be an outside bar. No need to book.
The stadium opens for spectators at 6:30pm in preparation for a 7:15pm kick off.
To get involved with The Global Challenge email [email protected]
Report Luke Evans