Soap stars to play charity football match

Emmerdale and Coronation Street stars are heading for the football pitch on Saturday 19 February in an all-star match which aims to raise £20,000 for the UK’s leading cancer care charity Macmillan Cancer Support.

Kicking off at 1pm at Manchester Regional Sports Arena, the match will see the stars compete for The Gavin Blyth Memorial Cup in memory of their colleague TV Producer Gavin who died in November, aged 41, after a short illness.

Gavin spent eight years working on the two soaps, starting at Emmerdale in 2002 as the show’s senior publicist before switching to Coronation Street in 2005 where he progressed to assistant producer. Gavin returned to Emmerdale in 2009 as Series Producer, creating exciting new characters and storylines that resulted in a massive upsurge in viewers.

 

The Emmerdale team captain and event organiser Danny Miller, who plays troubled teen Aaron Livesy, said:

'Gavin Blyth was an inspirational and passionate Producer. But not only that, he was a fantastic man, father, mentor, and friend who was like a brother to me and so many others. He’s left a giant hole at Emmerdale so we want to remember Gavin by having a match against the lads from Coronation Street which should be a great day celebrating his life, and raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support. The ground can hold 3,000 people and we want every seat filled to cheer us on, and to help a fantastic charity that does so much to help people affected by cancer. Naturally, Emmerdale are going to win!'

 

 

Jamie Strachan, Fundraising Manager for Macmillan in Leeds said:

'Emmerdale have been fantastic Macmillan supporters for a number of years, but Danny has done a superb job organising this match in memory of Gavin. He meant so much to so many and it’s a way for cast and crews of Emmerdale and Coronation Street to honour his memory whilst raising money for Macmillan to ensure we can help more people living with or affected by cancer.'

 

Tickets, payable at the gate, are priced £8 for adults and £4 for children or a family ticket (two adults and two children) available for £20 with all proceeds going to Macmillan. Turnstiles will open at 12noon ahead of a 1pm kick off. Fans will have the opportunity to get autographs and photographs with their favourite cast members after the game.

Macmillan Cancer Support improves the lives of people affected by cancer, providing practical, medical, emotional and financial support. Working alongside people affected by cancer, Macmillan works to improve cancer care. For more information on Macmillan, visit www.macmillan.org.uk|

- Ends -

For further information, images or media accreditation, please contact:

Sarah Summerfield – Press Officer, Macmillan Cancer Support

020 7840 7811 (out of hours 07801 307068)

SSummerfield@macmillan.org.uk|

 

 

Katy Chaytor – Press Officer, Macmillan Cancer Support

020 7840 4903 (out of hours 07801 307068)

KChaytor@macmillan.org.uk|

 

 

Susie Richardson – PR Manager, Macmillan Cancer Support

0207 840 7809 (mobile 07740 927173)

SRichardson@macmillan.org.uk|

 

Notes to Editors

Team Sheets are as follows:

 

Emmerdale

Danny Miller (Captain) – Aaron Livesy

Lyndon Ogbourne – Nathan Wylde

Adam Thomas – Adam Barton

James Thornton – John Barton

James Sutton – Ryan Lamb

Jaes Hooton – Sam Dingle

Kelvin Fletcher – Andy Sugden

Tony Audenshaw – Bob Hope

Marc Silcock – Jackson Walsh

Mark Charnock – Marlon Dingle

Tom Lister – Carl King

Dominic Brunt – Paddy Kirk

Jeff Hordley – Cain Dingle

 

 

Coronation Street

Ryan Thomas (Captain) – Jason Grimshaw

Jack P Shepherd – David Platt

Alan Halsall – Tyrone Dobbs

Michael le Vell – Kevin Webster

Sam Aston – Chesney Battersby-Brown

Steven Arnold – Ashley Peacock

Andrew Whyment – Kirk Sutherland

Ben Price – Nick Tilsley

Graeme Hawley – John Stape

 

 

Venue:

The Manchester Regional Sports Arena,

Rowsley Street,

Manchester,

M11 3FF

 

 

About Macmillan Cancer Support

Macmillan Cancer Support improves the lives of people affected by cancer, providing practical, medical, emotional and financial support. Working alongside people affected by cancer, Macmillan works to improve cancer care. One in three of us will get cancer. Two million of us are living with it. If you are affected by cancer Macmillan can help.

 

For more information, visit www.macmillan.org.uk| or freephone 0808 808 0000 for an information pack.