Celebs draw record crowd at charity football match
Thursday 13 August 2009
Soap fans from across the North West crammed into Ashton Town AFC's ground to watch a
Hollyoaks XI lift the Tesco Cup following a tense penalty shoot out - smashing the club's attendance record and raising over £3,500 for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign in the process!
1,427 fans crowded into the Wigan side's Edge Green Street ground for the one-off game, easily surpassing the club's previous best of 650 which was set way back in 1969 against Accrington Stanley! Special guest and X Factor star Laura White kicked off the match which was organised by local Tesco staff member Mark Hayes as part of the Giving children equipment to be independent campaign.
The Hollyoaks side, which featured stars including Chris Fountain (Justin) and Nick Pickard (Tony), raced into a 2-0 lead before the local 'Lobbies FC' team went 3-2 up with a spirited second half comeback. A 35-yard screamer drew Hollyoaks level and, despite both teams having late chances to win the game, the final whistle sounded with the sides level at 3-3 sending the match to penalties. With the Lobbies missing two of their first four spot-kicks, man of the match Nico Mirallegro (Newt) calmly slotted the winning penalty to send the Hollyoaks team and fans home happy.
Following the game, the Hollyoaks boys signed autographs and posed for photos while fellow cast member Carly Stenson (Steph) - who was watching on with boyfriend and injured team member Ricky Whittle (Calvin) - joined Laura White to draw raffle prizes including a top-of-the-range laptop and signed football shirt.
Nick Pickard, Tony in Hollyoaks, said:
I'm really pleased we managed to raise so much for the many children with muscle disease across the North West who will receive essential new equipment through the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign's Tesco Charity of the Year partnership.
X Factor star Laura White said:
The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign is a fantastic charity and I'm only too pleased to show my support for them and the thousands of families affected by muscle disease across the UK.
All pictures © David Galpin