FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
9 March 2012
From: SpecialEffect
Contact: Mark Saville (Communications) or Nick Streeter (Fundraiser)
[email protected] (07740 779278)
[email protected] (07837 688804)
Office: 01608 810055
www.specialeffect.org.uk
Begins:
Timmy Mallet and Ron Atkinson paired in charity football
classic
The pre-match atmosphere in the dressing room is getting serious. The SpecialEffect
AllStars football team is about to take to the pitch to face an Oxford United
Legends squad with with over 2,000 league appearances between them.
"Hey. Don't forget this is a charity match," said Assistant Manager Brendon Cross.
"The pitch is sticky, so tackle hard but fair, keep the ball moving and above all enjoy
yourselves."
Manager Ron Atkinson snorted in derision. "Forget that," he barked. "If any of you
are rubbish you'll be off before you get your laces dirty."
Huddled in a corner, Timmy Mallet began to look apprehensive.
It was all part of the good-humoured banter that complemented an entertaining
game of football last Sunday in front of a crowd of nearly 500 people at Oxford City's
Marsh Community Arena.
The match, organised by SpecialEffect, raised over £6000. Half of the money will
benefit Charlotte Nott, a five year-old who lost the lower parts of her arms and legs
to meningitis. Charlotte's family will need to spend thousands on replacement
prosthetics as she grows.
Along with former Manchester United manager Ron Atkinson, the squads contained
a number of well-known names, including TV children's star Timmy Mallet, sports
presenter Jim Rosenthal and retired million-pound footballer Joey Beauchamp. The
Legends line-up also featured a host of other Oxford United players including Mike
Ford, Chris Allen and Les Phillips.
"SpecialEffect is a wonderful charity, and little Charlotte is such a inspiration" Jim
Rosenthal told the Oxford Mail newspaper, "so if I can run around in my 60's and
show everyone how bad I am, it's not too much to ask, is it?"
SpecialEffect, who help people with disabilities to enjoy video games, will use the
money to buy specialised technology that will give people a better quality of life
through the social and therapeutic benefits that games can offer.
"The charity's all about helping people to enjoy themselves," said Fundraiser Nick
Streeter, "so we try to offer ways that supporters can have fun raising money.
Today's been a great example of that, and a huge thank you goes out to everyone
who helped in the organisation and running of the match."
The Legends won the match 6-5, but for the record, Timmy Mallet was an AllStars
inspiration on the right wing.
ends
SpecialEffect are an award-winning Oxfordshire charity that helps people with
disabilities to use leading-edge technology for therapy, rehabilitation and fun. In
particular, they’re dedicated to helping everyone with disabilities to enjoy computer
games. For many, the majority of computer games are simply too quick or too
difficult to play, and SpecialEffect can help them to find out which games they can
play, and how to adapt those games that they can't.
SpecialEffect contact: Mark Saville, Communications
Mobile: 07740 779278
Office: 01608 810055
[email protected]
www.specialeffect.org.uk
Twitter: @specialeffect
Facebook: specialeffectcharity
Charity no 1121004
Charity no 1121004