Football players and stars of music sign up to fundraising match

A BAND’S lead singer has slammed the “shambolic” initial response to the Grenfell Tower fire as he announced a charity football game raising funds for survivors.

Mumford and Sons frontman Marcus Mumford lives near the burned tower block and has teamed up with Queens Park Rangers to organise Game4Grenfell, featuring ex-professionals and celebrities as well as a firefighter involved in the relief effort.

Stars including Les Ferdinand, Tinie Tempah, David Seaman, Olly Murs, Jamie Dornan, Jarvis Cocker and firefighter Gregg Jules, who worked on the relief effort, are among those set to line up in the fixture on September 2 at Loftus Road, which stands just a mile from Grenfell Tower.

Mumford has been involved in the relief effort since the morning after the fire but said this was the first time he has spoken about it publicly as he didn’t think it was appropriate.

The musician said: “I think everyone knows the response at the beginning from Government and council was rubbish and shambolic.

“We’re six weeks in and people are still in hotels so this football thing is not trying to brush that to the side but at the same time I think people are starting to care and I hope that things are going to start to happen soon.”

The match – priced at £15 for adults and £5 for children – will aim to unite the people of west London and raise funds for the Evening Standard Dispossessed Fund.

More than 2,000 complimentary tickets will be issued to those affected by the tragedy, including families, emergency services, volunteers and local residents.

QPR chairman Tony Fernandes said: “This game isn’t about QPR, this game is about our community, and it’s a vehicle to bring people together; to give us all an opportunity to show solidarity.”