Celebrities and ex-footballers confirmed for The Big Match

Ex-England and Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman and singer Gareth Gates are among the celebrities taking part in this year’s The Big Match - which will be held at Reading’s Madejski Stadium on May 31.
Model and former popstar Suzanne Shaw, comedian Bobby Davro, former Liverpool star Neil Ruddock, former Tottenham Hotspur Legend Ossie Ardiles and X-Factor star Danyl Johnson will also be taking part in the day’s events.
More celebrities and former players will be confirmed in the lead-up to this year’s event.
The popular charity match - which has become one of the most successful fundraising events in the South since its formation in 2012, is unique in that it allows members of the public the chance to play with celebrities and ex-professional footballers.
The Big Match is held to support two charities - The Brain Tumour Charity and Action for Children.
It was started by Reading man Neil Humphries (pictured right with David Seaman at last year's event), who lost his father to a brain tumour in January 2012, and the event is co-sponsored by Ridgeway Volkswagen Newbury - whose general manager Craig Clapham is a close friend of Mr Humphries.
Shortly after his father’s death, Mr Humphries decided to organise a charity football match in his memory.
With the help of close family and friends along with a number of the "best footballing talents Reading has to offer" - The Big Match was born.
Starting in 2012 as a kick about on the Madejski pitch and raising £8,000, The Big Match went into 2013 with sights set high.
It didn’t disappoint, raising £65,000 for the two charities.
The Match (pictured) was won by Action for Children 4-2 which was down to a fine goal keeping display from Neil “Razor” Ruddock.
Mr Clapham said: “The Big Match is considered by Ridgeway Volkswagen as something that absolutely fits our culture regarding engaging with our local community. The Ridgeway Group stretches from Dorset in the South West up to Kidlington, Oxfordshire and right across Berkshire and Hampshire, so the Madejski Stadium location means we will be alongside many of our customers in supporting this fantastic event before and on the day itself.’
‘This event reaches out to so many people, from so many backgrounds across such a wide area. We now have some of our business partners and our staff going to great lengths, off their own backs to raise money for this event, so to say we are involved with this again gives us all immense pride.”
Tickets for this year’s event are priced at £7.50, while children under 4 go free.
Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.readingfcdirect.co.uk/events.aspx?section=eve or via The Big Match ticket hotline on 0844 249 1871.
The Newbury Weekly News is proud to be supporting The Big Match and currently has a collection box in the reception area for anyone wishing to donate money to the two charities.