MANCHESTER, England — Soccer, celebrities, sports legends and poverty will collide in a head-to-head match at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester on June 8 for Soccer Aid 2014. However, the winner’s prize for this match isn’t just a large golden trophy, but also the knowledge that millions of children will receive much needed assistance.
Soccer Aid began in 2006 under UNICEF UK Ambassador Robbie Williams as a way of combining his passion for football and UNICEF, and has since raised over £12 million (or $20 million USD), enabling UNICEF to continue its extraordinary work in health, education, nutrition, water, HIV and AIDS protection for children all over the globe.
In announcing this year’s match Williams said, “Soccer Aid returns for the fifth time in June and I admit there are scores to settle. Leading the England team, I will be making sure we defend that trophy against Rest of the World. There’s never been a better time for us to show our support for UNICEF.”
Every two years, Soccer Aid brings together celebrities and football (soccer) legends to represent one of two teams, England or the Rest of the World, in a match guaranteed to make an impact on the life of a child living in poverty.
Each team is comprised of 12 celebrities, six legends and a professional manager. This year, Soccer Aid 2014 will once again have Williams to lead the England team, joined by Michael Sheen to lead the Rest of the World. Damian Lewis (“Homeland”), Stephen Moyer (True Blood”), Matt Smith (“Doctor Who”), world famous chef Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Theakston (Heart FM) are just a few of the celebs destined to be jersey-clad.
So far, the English football legends confirmed to take to the field include Jamie Redknapp, Jamie Carragher, Paul Ince, David Seaman, Teddy Sheringham, Edwin van der Sar and Jaap Stam, with more to be announced in the coming week.
All of the profits made through ticket sales and viewer donations go directly to UNICEF, and this year, the UK government announced that it will match every donation pound for pound, maximizing the impact and increasing the incentive to help.
UNICEF UK Executive Director David Bull explained the importance of Soccer Aid further in the following statement: “Soccer Aid 2014 will raise vital money to help some of the world’s most vulnerable children get life-saving food, medicine and clean water.”
“Every day, children are in serious danger and thousands die needlessly in the struggle against poverty, hunger and disease. It’s time for us all to act. Please, buy a ticket to go to Soccer Aid or watch the match on ITV and help us change children’s lives.”
According to UNICEF, Soccer Aid 2012 enabled them to provide life-saving food to over one million West African children. Unfortunately, things such as malnutrition and preventable diseases continue to take the lives of millions of innocent children.
Sheen, the leader of the Rest of the World team, has seen first-hand the impact donations can make through his travels with UNICEF to Chad in Central Africa, but others just like Chad are in trouble too.
“There are so many children around the world in desperate need of our help; children whose lives have been devastated by conflict, such as in South Sudan, the Central African Republic and Syria, and the millions of children whose lives are at risk because they don’t have enough food or access to clean water.”
“Football is something that can bring people together in a way that nothing else can.”
There are three ways to help: buy Soccer Aid match tickers, donate and/or tune in to ITV June 8 to cheer on both teams in their fight to help give relief to suffering children.
Sources: UNICEF 1, HuffPost, UNICEF 2, LookToTheStars
Photo: Key103