Football, music and 40s-style fashion

Aug 4 2008 by Sam Wood, The Journal

NORTH EAST sporting stars lined up for a charity football match last night to help underprivileged children have the experience of a lifetime.

Former world boxing champion Glenn McCrory, who runs the Northumbria ABC club in Newbiggin Hall, Newcastle, is hoping to take 14 of his youngsters to San Francisco to train with Olympic gold medallist Andre Ward.

And to help raise the funds required sporting heroes such as footballers John Beresford and Paul Bracewell, and rugby stars Dodie Weir and Alan Tate turned up.

Hundreds of people gathered at Newcastle Falcon’s Kingston Park ground to watch McCrory’s team of All Stars take on a star-studded team of United old boys.

Referee for the match was Alan Wilkie, famous for sending off Eric Cantona after his kung-fu kick at Selhurst Park.

Tyne Tees presenter Philippa Tomson hosted the event.

Mr McCrory said: “It’s a truly wonderful gesture by all involved to give up a precious Sunday to raise money for kids.

“This is a great opportunity for these young kids.

“They will be meeting a gold medal Olympian and training at some great facilities.

“Hopefully this will inspire some of these kids to great things. I want these kids to feel the same as when I first went to the States – it made me so determined to be a professional boxer and helped me realise my dream to be the best in the world.

“A few of them may be in a position to represent Britain at the 2012 games and this would be a great experience for them. Boxing is the only thing that has kept a lot of these kids off the streets and out of trouble.”

Ms Tomson said: “It is incredibly important to look after the young people in our region. Anything that can challenge their energy into a worthwhile cause and possibly a career is a fantastic step forward.”