Sevens up to support charities

HALTON Borough Football Club are staging an over-30s seven-a-side football competition – The Andy Parker Cup – this Saturday.

Eight teams consisting of around 100 players will be taking part in what promises to be a fun day for all.

Most of the players taking part like Andy have played for or had some association with the club over the last 50 years since its formation back in 1966.

The matches will kick-off at 1pm with two groups of four teams and the final should be contested at around 5pm.

The main beneficiaries of the charity this year will be Halton Haven Hospice and Willowbrook Hospice in memory of Andy’s Mum who passed away two years ago.

Another of the organisers’ mothers, Karl Reid,will be undertaking a sponsored walk from Wigan to Widnes followed by the football competition.

One of the teams in the competition are Ollie’s Heroes who will be run and managed by Mark King whose son Oliver died aged 12.

Mark is also working with the Government to try and get every school in Britain supplied with a lifesaving defibrillator.

The Andy Parker Cup came about after the sudden death of Andy at Christmas 2009 due to an undetectable heart condition aged just 34.

On March 20 2010, a fundraising event for Andy’s family was held.

From this the idea came to continue to raise money for charity from which the Andy Parker Cup was born from ideas mainly due to Andy’s brother Rob, Andy’s family and ex-members of Halton Borough FC who Andy and Rob played for.

On June 6, 2016 the most recent event was held raising in excess of £3,000.

Defibrillators were purchased for a local nursery and Halton Borough Wolves football team who are part of the Halton Borough FC youth development set-up.

The total number of defibrillators including all the training of staff and volunteers supplied to local schools and junior teams is now 14. ● For more details about the tournament contact Bob Parker on 07767090105 or Rob Parker on 07788-773616.