NSL MELONS 1 NSL LEMONS 3
NSL REP TEAM 4 AC WOLLATON 6
Photo taken by Kev Goodman
A few months ago, I put forward a idea for the Charity Blog to have a Notts Senior League team from all different divisions and approached AC Wollaton's main man Roberto, I went and watched their 1st ever match around 6 years ago and he agreed to play the match. I then had to find a ground and Basford United came back and said yes no problem, its yours for the day free of charge for your charity. It was then I began to contact players from all clubs, includng some guest players. Old friend Darren Heyes said if his son Joe wasnt on international duty or at Leicster Tigers then he would come along and sign a shirt for us(joe was at Leicester on the day as they took on and beat |Wasps) but he not only signed a club shirt but got all the players to sign it and it went in a auction for £225.
The next thing on the list was to choose the charity that blog was going to support for this coming season, one morning I got up and it was the 12th anniversary of us burying our 5 day old grandson, so I did a search and came across the Childrens Bereavement Centre, so took a look at them and what they do and was very impressed. I then set up a Treasurers account as they dont do charity accounts anymore, but the account is like a darts & dominos account.
I then asked the players if they would donate to play and also if they would like to chuck some in for the raffle, then got in touch with old friend Jon Knight who did me a poster, then emailing all over for prizes for the raffle and tombola. I then had one company called The Beehive in Ollerton when taking my grandson there offer to bring along Disney Characters on the day.
It was then to push it on Facebook and Twitter and on Friday Night, I had raised £900 in raffle tickets and took nearly £500 in players donations to play, that night I couldnt sleep, as I was worried incase of rain or no one turned up as lots of things were happening due to the Queens Jubilee weekend.
We were at Basford United FC at 9am and soon set up the tombola stall and hook a duck and other stalls began to arrive and set up whilst me and my assistant manager (Arnold Town Reserves) Ash Marshall laid out the kits whilst I wrote out the teams for all the matches.
The matches just flashed by, I think the first one ended up 3-1 whilst the main game was a close match that ended 6-4 to the Angels, I must thank everyone who observed the minutes silence before this match.
All the games were played in good spirit and there was only one winner and that was the charity, when we totalled up at home on Saturday night, I was tired and thought we had made a mistake with the total, so we went to bed and got up on Sunday and recounted and found the total was £2,300 I was shocked but over the moon.
I would like to thank everyone who attended, played for any team, people who sent money, the stalls, all Basford staff, esp the 2 lads who were sweeping the changing rooms and clearing up rubbish etc all day.
When adding the £2.300 to the Blogs running total, it now stands at £2,969.75p with some more pledges to come in.
If anyone wishes to make a donation, then the Charity Blog's Bank Details are as follows:
AROUNDTHEGROUNDS CHARITY BLOG
Sort Code: 30-98-97
Account: 70342862
