A host of ex-professional footballers and local celebrities are warming up for a charity football match set to take place in Frome on Sunday.
Frome man, Andrew Carpenter, is organising the match at Badgers Hill in aid of both Tourettes Action, something his son Tom lives with, and the Frome Memorial Theatre Trust, something with which he has been involved all his life.
Craig Alcock, the current captain of Yeovil Town FC, will be attending to be part of the pre-match Crossbar Challenge.
The gates open at 1.30pm with the Crossbar Challenge commencing at 2.00pm with three age categories (11 years old and under, 12 – 15 years old, and 16 & over).
It will cost £1 to enter and the winner will take half the proceeds of any given age group, with the rest going to the charity.
Andrew Carpenter said, “It will be great fun for the youngsters before the match and Craig will be there to join in.”
The match will be between the Frome Collegians Under 16s, the team he has been managing this season, and a Celebrity XI, and kicks off at 3pm.
Comedian and impersonator, Mike Osman, leads the celebrity line-up as both commentator for the match and host of the dinner that will follow.
In 1985, he joined ITV’s “Copy Cats” as an impressionist, working alongside Gary Wilmot and Bobby Davro. Over the next few years he had roles in Gloria Hunniford’s “Sunday Sunday” show, The Generation Game, Noel’s House Party and Big Break, and also as a guest on Sky Sports. He also did summer tours with Jim Davidson and Russ Abbott.
In 2006-07 he was employed by Southampton Football Club to warm up the crowd before their matches at St. Mary’s Stadium. Since then, he has presented a Sunday morning show on BBC Radio Solent.
Mike will be joined by a host of ex-professional players including Gary Owers, an FA Cup finalist with Sunderland in 1992 and another ex-Bristol City player. Bristol Rovers will be well represented with ex- players Billy Clark, Dave Mehew, Tony Pounder and Andy Tillson all in the line-up.
Frome Town FC will also be represented by current assistant manager, Mike Gilgoure, and last season’s goalkeeper, Richard Fey.
The ex-pros will be joined by Pete Simpson of BBC Somerset and James Carpenter of Beacon Radio, Andrew’s son who recently left BBC Radio 2 to take up his current position as drive time presenter in the Black Country.
Tickets will be available on the gate at £5 per adult and £2 per child, with children’s tickets available in advance for just £1 by contacting Andrew Carpenter on 01373 465503/07738 373249 or at andrew.carpenter@virgin.net.
The gates will open at 1.30pm when the bar will be open for spectators to enjoy a drink before the game.
After the match there will a Sportsman’s Dinner at Badgers Hill and in addition to Mike Osman, ex-Premier League and international referee, John Lloyd, will be speaking and entertaining the guests with stories and anecdotes from their very interesting and different lives.
Tickets for the dinner are priced at just £30 each or a table for ten costs £270 and this allows entry to the match free of charge as well. Again, tickets can be contacted from Andrew through the above number.
Andrew said, “This match has been made possible by the generosity of Chris Vincent from Orchardleigh House & Estate and I am extremely grateful to Chris and hope it will help raise a substantial amount for both charities.”
Pictured top left: Craig with Cameron Miller, one of the Frome Collegians under 16s squad and a season ticket holder at Yeovil Town FC before their recent home game vs. Southampton. Top Right: Comedian Mike Osman
