SIMON’S KAISER CHIEFS SURPRISE
PRESTON North End boss Simon Grayson shocked guests at a glitzy charity bash in aid of Prostate Cancer UK – he’d roped in the Kaiser Chiefs!
Grayson spearheaded the ball in Leeds and managed to persuade the famous band to turn up and perform their big hits.
Held at Queens Hotel in Leeds, the evening raised £42,000 towards the men’s health charity that is close to his heart following the death of close friend Steve Garbett.
The North End boss is once again taking part in the annual Football to Amsterdam bike ride as part of ‘Team Garby’ alongside Steve’s son Dave.
Grayson will join hundreds of other riders from across the country in the 145-mile charity cycle.
And ‘Team Garby’ have already smashed a three-year target to raise £100,000, with funds from the ball taking the total to £115,000.
Leeds boss Garry Monk and pundit Mark Lawrenson also attended the party that was hosted by ex-Leeds midfielder John Stiles, whose World Cup-winning dad Nobby Stiles was diagnosed with prostate cancer four years ago.
Grayson said: “I am delighted to support Prostate Cancer UK, a charity which is very close to my heart, and I’m looking forward to joining the ride for a second time in honour of my late friend Steve Garbett.
“Garby was a really close pal, who followed my career as a player and latterly as a manager and was always there to offer me support and advice. In the last couple of years we’ve wanted to keep his memory alive and the ball on Saturday night was a brilliant demonstration of this.
“Garby loved the Kaiser Chiefs so to have them show up on the night and surprise all of the guests was a perfect way to celebrate his life with family and friends.”
Celebrate
Kaiser Chiefs front man Ricky Wilson said: “We want to say good luck to Simon Grayson, Team Garby, who’ve done a great job so far, and all the Football to Amsterdam riders using their pedal-power to get to Amsterdam.”
You can sponsor Team Garby at www.justgiving .com/companyteams/steve garbo and it’s not too late to join Simon Grayson, Terry Butcher, Les Ferdinand and Viv Anderson in Prostate Cancer UK's Football to Amsterdam bike ride from June 9-11 2017.
For information go to prostatecanceruk.org/ amsterdam and to find out about the charity’s new March for Men walking programme, which includes events in London, Leeds and Glasgow, visit marchformen.org