Celebrities heading to Boston for charity football clash against amateur side

The starry squad from the Once Upon A Smile charity will face Leverton SFC at Boston United’s Jakemans Stadium on Sunday, May 6, at 3pm.

Proceeds from the clash will go to Once Upon A Smile, which provides emotional, practical, and financial support to bereaved families.

The tie has been organised by Giles Elson, manager of Leverton SFC.

The club has held a charity match against local teams at the end of every season since it formed in 2012, but this year it looked further afield for the fundraiser, approaching the Once Upon A Smile charity.

The final team of celebs has not yet been confirmed due to potential contractual obligations, but a charity spokesman said it was likely to include Emmerdale’s Danny Miller, This Is England’s Thomas Turgoose, Prey’s Daniel Jillings, Hollyoaks’ Ben Ryan-Davies, and perhaps X Factor’s Jake Quickenden.

Ex-professionals are also expected to be in the mix, including one with Premier and Champions League experience.

Giles, 40, of Butterwick, said his team were up for the challenge.

“Our lads are all absolutely looking forward to it, 100 per cent,” he said, adding: “They know they will have to be at the top of their game to get anything out of it.”

Word of the fixture has attracted widespread interest, Giles said, with people buying tickets from across the country including Glasgow, Manchester, South London, and Bolton. 
“I started getting emails as soon as we announced it, asking where can we get tickets,” Giles said. “It’s quite amazing how far the reach is.”

Some 50 VIP meet and greet tickets sold out within days, but a pair is to be made available through a competition run in The Standard.

* The match has attracted large number of backers:

Boston United have donated the use of its ground for the tie, while Highgate Day Nursery and Preschool are the official match sponsor, Bullet Engineering the Man of the Match sponsor, Vaderstad and B&B Tractors the referee sponsors, Dave Tilley PVC Installations the programme sponsor, and The Assembly Rooms and The Folly the celebrity team sponsors. Kalas Packaging, meanwhile, is printing the tickets free of charge.

Leverton SFC’s season sponsor is Thomas Campbell estate agents.

l Tickets for the match can be found by searching Leverton SFC V Once Upon A Smile Celebrity charity match 2018 at www.facebook.com

Enquiries to [email protected] or 07766 748828.