Football-mad fans got a chance to play the part of a Premier League player for the day in the Christie Dream Team Cup at Old Trafford yesterday.
A six-team round robin tournament took place on at the Theatre of Dreams with JAM – a group of club promoters and DJs – triumphing as the Christie raised over £30,000 to support the rehabilitation of teenage cancer patients at the specialist cancer centre.
Players got the chance to show their skills on the famous pitch as well as a behind-the-scenes sneak peak at the dressing rooms – although there were considerably less ‘hairdryer treatments’ for the fundraising footballing feast.
Mary McLaughlin fundraising co-ordinator at The Christie Charity said: “The Dream Team Cup was a fantastic day and everyone really got into the spirit of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“Manchester United fans dream of stepping out onto the pitch at Old Trafford and yesterday, many of our supporters made their dreams a reality, whilst raising vital funds to help cancer patients at The Christie.”
SPREADING THE WORD: JAM were victorious as they raised awareness and cash for The Christie’s cause
JAM defeated three-time entrants Green Park in the final on goal difference after a goalless draw in the ten-minute match and a tied penalty shoot-out.
Other teams included Rayburn Rockets, Roberts Jackson Solicitors FC, The Christie All-Stars and Media United.
The Christie All-Stars were a mix of supporters looking to take advantage of the unique opportunity – including two dedicated international fans who jetted in from Norway just for the day – while Media United featured a number of print and broadcast journalists from across the North West.
MM’s own Andrew Greaves and Liam Geraghty featured for Media United as they clinched a creditable third spot.
After sitting out the 1-0 defeat to eventual winners JAM in the opener, MM’s duo helped form the spine of a side that went undefeated with an unbreached defence for the rest of the tournament.
RED ARMY: Media United, featuring MM’s Liam Geraghty (centre front) and Andrew Greaves (left front) battled to third spot
The cobbled-together team – which also contained journalists from the BBC, Manchester Evening News, The Sun, the Daily Express, the Bolton News and the Bury Times – notched a 2-0 win over Roberts Jackson Solicitors and a 1-0 victory over Rayburn Rockets.
Goalless draws against Green Park and The Christie All-Stars were not enough to send Media United through to a fairy tale final.
The event was brought about through The Christie’s partnership with Manchester United, which is managed by the club’s own charity Manchester United Foundation.
And former Red Devils winger Lee Sharpe dished out the medals in the post-match meal and auction before rounding off the day with a short talk and question and answer session.
“As an official charity partner of Manchester United, we were delighted to be able to offer this unique fundraising opportunity to our supporters. Huge thanks also to Lee Sharpe,” said McLaughlin.
The Christie were recently granted planning permission for a £6million Maggie’s Centre.
A new £28.5m Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC) is also set to open this year and the UK’s first proton beam therapy service, due to start treating patients in 2018, is also in development.
