The promotional poster for the upcoming charity football match Pic: @rangers_bognor (Twitter)
International football legends who played for Chelsea and Glasgow Rangers are holding a charity match to raise money for people affected by November’s Croydon tram crash.
Chelsea hero Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and former England captain Ray Wilkins are among the famous faces lined up to take part in the match which will see the Chelsea “old boys” face Glasgow Rangers legends team.
Other notable players lined up include Tore André Flo – who starred in both teams – ex-Scotland star Gordon Durie and ex-Chelsea forward Mark Falco.
Last year’s tram crash claimed the lives of seven people. A further 51 people were injured when the tram came off the rails in South London on November 9 during the early morning rush hour. The two-carriage vehicle overturned as it went into a tunnel near the Sandilands tram stop near East Croydon.
The driver Alfred Dorris was suspended from driving and arrested by police on suspicion of manslaughter. He has been bailed until May.
Donald Collett, 62, Philip Logan, 52, Robert Huxley, 63, Mark Smith, 35, Dane Chinnery, 19, Philip Seary, 57, and Dorota Rynkiewicz, 35, were all pronounced dead at the scene.
Stuart Thomson, joint organiser of the fund-raising football match, has organised a host of charity matches in the past, including Rangers legends versus South Coast legends at Bognor Regis Town Football Club last year.
The 54-year-old, who lives in West Wittering, explained organisers took the decision to donate money to the families affected by the tram tragedy due to the impact it has had on Croydon.
Thomson told the Croydon Advertiser: “The tram crash has both a local connection and a Chelsea connection as I understand a Chelsea fan died in the crash.
“The Chelsea Legends and Rangers Legends managers have been very supportive, donating signed memorabilia and there will be probably 2,000 Rangers fans coming down for it. It will be a sell-out.”
The match will also be supporting four children’s charities – Demelza Hospice Care for Children, Ray of Sunshine, CLIC Sargent and CCT Tiger Ward.
Verity Gallagher, the fundraising manager at CLIC Sargent, told Eastlondonlines: “When cancer strikes young lives we fight tirelessly to limit the damage it causes beyond their health. We rely entirely on donations to fund our vital work and so we can’t thank both teams and everyone involved for their fantastic efforts.
“The match will be a great day for all footy fans but, most importantly, the money raised will help CLIC Sargent support more children, young people and their families thrive, not just survive following a cancer diagnosis.”
Match tickets are £12 for adults on the terraces, £15 for adults sitting down, only limited seats remain, and child tickets are half price.
Tickets can be bought from Sutton United in person or by calling 07376 255307. For further details contact Stuart Thomson on twitter @Rangers_Bognor
