THE third annual charity football match between West Bromwich Albion and Stourbridge FC has helped two friends achieve their goal of raising £50,000 for Mary Stevens Hospice.
Matt Webb and Mark Naylor have held numerous events for the Stourbridge-based charity in memory of Matt’s mum Jane Webb.
The latest successful event – which raised £15,000 – saw thousands of fans turn out to the War Memorial Ground on Sunday to watch more than 20 legends from both clubs go head-to-head for the Jane Webb Memorial Trophy.
Alongside the match, organisers also put on a family fun day with market stalls, zorbs, fairground games and rides, a mascot obstacle course, a sporting memorabilia auction and a meet and greet with Albion’s new first-team manager Darren Moore.
For the second year in a row it was The Baggies who claimed victory with a 5-1 win, with man of the match Nigel Quashie notching a rare appearance on the scoresheet.
Matt, who was Stourbridge Old Boys' manager, said: “When we originally set this up it was just a case of Mark and I putting our heads together and thinking ‘who can we get to play who might help us raise a few grand?’
“To see this event become something that the entire community looks forward to and that’s supported by some of the biggest names to ever play for Stourbridge and West Brom still feels very surreal to this day, and to have raised that much money for families at the Hospice means so much to Mark and myself.
“We're so grateful to everyone who made it possible again this year, and we hope everyone enjoyed it as much as we did.”
Also among the crowd were a few recognisable faces from West Brom’s past, including ‘Super Bob’ Taylor and current Halesowen Town star Lee Hughes, with Super Bob coming on the pitch at half-time to present Kewford Eagles and Phoenix Youth with the trophies they won in a recent youth tournament supporting the hospice.
Amanda Bowen, deputy head of fundraising and lottery at Mary Stevens Hospice, said: “We can’t tell the guys just how big a difference they’ve made to our families once again this year, and it’s so emotional for us to know how proud they are of what they've done in Jane’s memory.
“We know she held the rain off for us for the third year running, and in return the boys did something so, so special to ensure her legacy lives on in supporting other families battling impossibly difficult circumstances.
“It’s a pleasure and a privilege to be involved in this event, and we’d like to thank all of the volunteers, staff, stall-holders, sponsors, players, organisers and fans who made it possible again this year.”
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