Skip to content

Hundreds attend celebrity MND match for ex-player

Nina Das Gupta,Worcesterand
Andrew Dawkins,West Midlands
News imageBBC Stacy Bozward is sitting down in front of rows of blue seats at a stadium. Her father, with grey and white hair, is on the left of the photo and her mother, with brown/blonde hair, is on the right. They are wearing T-shirts that include the words "Stacy's Kick for a Cure".BBC
Stacy Bozward, pictured with parents Gary and Lesley, says she is "so determined" to raise awareness

More than 800 people attended a celebrity football match organised in support of a former player battling Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

Ex-West Bromwich Albion footballer Stacy Bozward, 38, was diagnosed last year and said Saturday's game at Sixways Stadium in Worcester was "about raising awareness".

Television personality Calum Best, son of football legend George Best, John Shepherd, from reality TV show Married at First Sight, and Jay Hutton, of Tattoo Fixers, were among those who featured.

The Kick for a Cure match was organised by Sellebrity Soccer, which arranges celebrity games, and the Matt Gallagher Foundation, named after the former Coventry rugby player who died from MND.

It is thought that approximately £8,000 was raised from the match, and the money will go to MND charities.

MND is a neurological condition which affects the brain and spinal cord, and can affect a person's ability to talk, walk and breathe.

News imageA woman with blonde hair looks directly at the camera. She is wearing a grey top and sitting in a chair with a head support. To the side of her is a table with a glass of juice on it.
The former Albion player was diagnosed with the condition in July last year

The mum-of-two from Worcester, who can no longer walk, said: "Having to tell my children was the worst day of my life.

"So it's been almost a year now since I got the diagnosis and I feel like more needs to be done to raise awareness."

News imageA man on the left and four women are holding drinks and looking at the camera. Other people are visible in the background at the bar.
The game in Worcester was attended by 850 people

The game was between Stacy's MNDA Warriors and The Mighty Matt Gallaghers, with her side winning on penalties.

The former player said: "I feel really, really excited and really proud that we've managed to pull this off together in such a devastating time for us."

She also stated "more needs to be done into research for MND".

News imageIn the foreground, a table holds two trophies—one topped with a football—at either end, with a cuddly toy in the middle. A sports pitch is behind it and part of a stand is visible at the top of the photo.
The match was held at Sixways Stadium in Worcester, with the proceeds going to MND charities

Her husband, Barry Bozward, said: "Stacy's always played football from a very young age and that's always been her passion.

"Obviously this diagnosis has been devastating, so she wanted to raise awareness through her passion, which is football, hence this celebrity charity football match."

Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.

More on this story
Related internet links