Express & Star

Wolves and Villa favourites play in Aldridge

A host of Wolves and Aston Villa legends will take to the pitch in Aldridge tomorrow for a charity football tournament.

Published

Teams of Villa and Wolves heroes will play in a round-robin tournament also featuring Walsall Phoenix Old Boys at Aldridge Stick & Wicket Club.

West Midlands based health and well-being charity, the Kaleidoscope Plus Group will once again be the chosen charity.

Last year, the charity match attracted a crowd of more than 2,000 people and organisers are hoping for an even bigger turn-out, with the news that a side of former Molineux fans favourites will be taking to the pitch this year.

Lions and Legends chairman and former Holte End favourite Ken McNaught expressed his delight at returning again this year.

He said: "It's really exciting to be working with the Kaleidoscope Plus Group in the promotion of this match for the second year running.

"It really is a perfect partnership as I understand the difficulties footballers face, be it a 16- year-old apprentices who have been released, all the way through to International superstars who careers have come to a natural end."

The Kaleidoscope Plus Group's chief executive Monica Shafaq believes the event will one again be a great opportunity to both raise awareness and promote positive mental health, as well as helping to tackle the issue of mental ill health in sport.

She said: "When we were asked whether we would like to get involved again we said yes straightaway.

"This is not an event where we will be looking to raise money, it will be one in which we will be looking to raise awareness of positive mental health to a large audience as we have a host of exciting activities planned for the day.

"The day will also allow us to tackle the stigma attached to mental health in sport especially in regards to those sportsmen who struggle once they have retired.

"We can't wait for the day and encourage as many of you as possible to get along and support the day."

Wolves All-Stars representative Jason Guy is also happy to be involved.

He said: "We are delighted to be involved with not only a fantastic and worthwhile charity but to be invited to this event, which I know has been extremely successful over the years.

"The Wolves All-Stars have helped raise around £500,000 for worthy charities since our inception and it is with great pleasure we can be involved in the tournament with so many other Midlands football legends."

The family football fun day will also feature a host of live music, with tickets priced £4 for adults while it is free entry for Under-16s.

For more details go to www.walsallphoenix.net/tickets or call Tom Revitt on 07912 288 545.

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