Age 16-18
Enterprising New City College student Charlie Ayris has organised a football match starring former professional players to raise money for charity.
Football-mad Charlie, 18, has single-handedly organised the Daggers Legends event which will take place on Sunday 23rd May at Hornchurch Stadium.
He hopes to attract up to 1,000 people to go along and support and raise as much money as possible for the Dyspraxia Foundation and British Dyslexia Association.
Charlie, who is studying Politics and History A Levels at Havering Sixth Form in Wingletye Lane, Hornchurch, has been a Dagenham & Redbridge FC (formerly Dagenham FC) fan all his life and was inspired by his family to organise the match.
He said: “It came out of the blue really. All my family, right back to my grandad, have always been keen Daggers fans and we were talking about some of the older players and that it would be good to get them together for a match and raise some money.
“I took on the organisation last year and then it was cancelled due to Covid – but now football matches are allowed again, so we decided to get a date and go ahead.”
Some of the former players involved are Scott Doe, Lee Matthews, Sam Saunders and Paul Terry (brother of former Chelsea captain John Terry). Charlie chose the two charities because his family have close connections with them.
On the day, as well as the football, there will be a bar, burger van, raffle and half-time entertainment.
Tickets are £5 for adults and £1 for under 5s and are available on the day. Gates open at 1pm and the match starts at 2pm.
Charlie will be carrying on his love of the game when he leaves college this summer to study a Football Coaching degree at the University of South Wales.
We wish Charlie and his family all the best for a successful event on 23rd May!
