CHARITY COMP IS ALL SET FOR NEW LAUNCH

A LONG-RUNNING charity tournament in aid of Leukaemia Research is set to kick off its latest instalment next Sunday.

The Graham Edwards Memorial Trophy is named in memory of a promising young footballer from Gobowen, near Oswestry, who played for Gobowen and Weston Rhyn. He sadly died of Leukaemia aged just 21 in 1974.

The tournament was set up in his memory the following year and is one of the longest running charity tournaments in the country.

A sign of its longevity is that sons and even grandsons of players who played in the inaugural competition have played in it in recent years!

Although the ultimate aim of the tournament is raising as much money as possible for Leukaemia Research, it is officially recognised by the Shropshire FA and clubs see it as a useful warm-up for their league campaigns.

There is plenty of local pride at stake.

This year, eight teams will do battle. Group A features Ellesmere United, Morda United, The Keys – St Martins and The New Saints U19s, while Gobowen Celtic, Llaggollen Reserves, Meifod and St Martins line up in Group B.

The opening two games of the competition take place next Sunday, July 10 – last year’s winners Morda United take on Ellesmere United at noon and The New Saints U19s play The Keys – St Martins at 4pm.

On Tuesday, July 12, Group B kicks off with Gobowen Celtic v Meifod (6.30pm) and two days later it’s St Martins v Llangollen Reserves, also at 6.30pm.

All the matches take place at the Gobowen Playing Field on St Martins Road in Gobowen and supporters are welcome to attend. Over the years just under £160,000 has been raised for charity.

The competition continues throughout the month with the final on Sunday, July 31 (3pm).

For result/fixture updates, or for further information, contact media officer David Figg on 07719 954727.