TV teachers play charity match for tragic kids
HUNDREDS turned out for a charity football match to raise money for the funerals of four children who died in a Salford house fire.
The headteacher of Harrop Fold in Little Hulton and star of TV’s Educating Greater Manchester, Drew Povey, played in the match on Saturday morning to raise money following the deaths of Demi Pearson, 15, a pupil at his school, and her siblings Brandon, eight, Lacie, seven, and three-year-old Lia.
He was joined by fellow teacher Gary Chambers and his brother and colleague Ben Povey for the game, which was played on a pitch at the school.
Mr Povey turned out for Walkden-based Vulcan Veterans against Vulcan Young Boys.
The devastating 5am blaze at the Pearson family’s home in Jackson Street, Walkden on December 11 claimed the four children’s lives.
Their mother, Michelle Pearson, 35, remains in a critical condition in Vulcan Veterans took on Vulcan Young Boys a coma, unaware her children died in the fire, which is being treated as an arson attack by police.
More than £22,000 has already been raised for the funerals. The total from the football match has not yet been finalised. After the game, Mr Povey, who was widely praised in the wake of the reality TV show in the autumn, said: “It was absolutely brilliant seeing the community come together like that.
“Everybody was in good spirits and the game was very good.
“I think there will be some sore legs in the morning, and some people scraping themselves out of bed! “They edged it 3-0,” he joked. “It was played in great spirits, there was some great banter and it raised money for an important cause,” he said.
Collection buckets were circulated at the match, and the event then moved to the nearby Vulcan pub.
Other events on the day included face-painting, a chocolate tombola, talent shows, bingo, a raffle as well as a game of ‘play your cards right.’
Sums raised will go into a fund set up by the Pearson family to help with funeral costs.
Zak Bolland, 23, Courtney Brierley, 20, and David Worrall, 25, have been charged with murder and are due to stand trial on April 30.