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Celebrities to have a ball
From the Gazette & Herald, first published Friday 3rd Aug 2001.
CELEBRITIES and top footballers are planning to make their way to Wiltshire on Sunday to play Chippenham Town Football Club in a charity match.
Michael Greco, aka Beppe from Eastenders, and Nick Moran, star of the hit film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, are set to support the event being organised by arts charity Kandu and the Wiltshire Times's sister paper, the Gazette and Herald.
Other sponsors include the Green Recycling Group and Western Sports.
Members of the public are invited to watch the Bluebirds' first team battle it out against Kandu's celebrity team at the Hardenhuish Park ground, and raise money for important local community projects.
There will also be a charity auction of Blur and Gorillaz memorabilia donated by Damon Albarn and various items including a T-shirt and shorts and signed pictures from Spice Girl Melanie Chisholm.
Former Spurs and Swindon player Mick Hazard, current Nottingham Forest player Chris Bart-Williams and former Spurs and West Ham player Paul Allen are expected to make up the Kandu celebrity team.
Mr Bart-Williams has confirmed his attendance on Sunday, particularly impressing organisers because he is playing in a match the day before.
Kandu director Ed Deedigan said although not all the top names were 100 per cent confirmed, the most important thing was for people to show their support for the charity's important work in the community.
He said: "Chippenham Town are a great team and people pay to watch them anyway.
"If just one person turns up to support our community initiatives, that's great and that is what's important.
"But obviously we hope the day will be a great success and this is something which will become an annual event."
It is hoped enough money will be raised to bring Kandu's No Place Home Project, which has been touring the country working with the homeless through the arts and music, to Chippenham by the end of the year.
No Place Home has been supported throughout by Sporty Spice Mel Chisholm, who has had nothing but praise for the effect it has had on the young homeless people.
Already four formerly homeless people from across the country have picked themselves up and got employment since working with Kandu, and one has enrolled on a college course.
The event will kick off at 1pm with a demonstration by Don Deedigan's School of Tae Kwon Do, featuring several world champions.
There will be a warm-up game between the Kandu team and a team from Melksham's George Ward School, where the charity is already working, before Chippenham Town take to the field at 3pm.
Mayor Barbie Dawson will present the Kandu Cup to the winning team at the end of the day.
"This is about people enjoying themselves while trying to help combat major difficulties we as a community have," said Mr Deedigan.
"If the weather stays nice and lots of people turn up and raise some money it could be a perfect day."
At an invitation-only event after the match, Gazette reporter Jen Bishop will present the new Gazette and Herald/Kandu Star Of The Community Awards to a number of recipients in recognition of the work they have done with local people in the past year.
Tickets for The Kandu Cup cost £5, £3 for concessions and £10 for a family of four and are available on the gate.
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