Celebrities battle it out in online soccer final for NHS heroes
NHS heroes will be the winners when top footballers and stars from Love Island battle it out in a charity cup final tomorrow.
While the lockdown may have deprived us of live sport, some of Britain’s best known faces have been competing in an online football tournament raising cash for frontline health workers.
Cricket stars Ben Stokes, Joe Root, Jos Buttler and Stuart Broad compete against celebrities from the worlds of TV, comedy, music and film in the NHS Charities Together Cup.
Former footballers Shaun Wright-Phillips, Joleon Lescott and Fabrice Muamba won through to the final where they will take on Love Island’s Chris Hughes, Kem Cetinay and Shaughna Phillips. The final kicks off at 5.30pm tomorrow, bringing to an end a thrilling Fifa 20 competition.
Chris, 27, said: “It’s been such a laugh to play against some of the country’s greatest sports stars – such good lads and an honour to do it for such a great cause.”
Shaughna, 25, added: “It’s been so much fun. The most important thing is raising as much money as possible for NHS Charities Together for the
Covid-19 Urgent
Appeal.” The appeal is aiming to raise £100million. The event was organised by businessman Leo Skagerlind, whose wife is an NHS worker.
Father-of-three Leo, boss of Celebrity Esports, said: “My other half is on the frontline trying to save lives every day.
“I see it first hand and that gave me the motivation and passion to do this. I wanted to do something to inspire people to donate and hopefully lift spirits in the process.”
Meanwhile, Good Morning Britain’s Ben Shephard, who will be commentating on the final, has praised “selfless” co-host Kate Garraway as her husband Derek Draper continues to battle Covid-19 in a coma.
He said: “At a time when you could be forgiven for focusing on your own family, she’s constantly asking how everybody is doing.
“When she heard my family members had been ill she was really worried about them. She is remarkable.”
People can watch the final on celebrityesport.co.uk or on The Daily Express website.
● To donate £3 text ‘UNITE3’ to 70456.
To donate £5 text ‘UNITE5’ to 70456.
To donate £10 text ‘UNITE10’ to 70456. 97.75% of cash goes to NHS Charities Together Campaign for the Covid-19 Urgent Appeal.