Soccer Aid is back and better than ever. It will be hosted on Sunday 8th June at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, and will appear live on ITV with Dermot O’Leary and Kirsty Gallacher hosting. If you didn’t know before, it’s all hosted by UNICEF, the world’s leading children’s organisation. For tickets for Soccer Aid 2014 call 0845 456 2014 or visit manutd.com/socceraid.
Short appeals from the likes of UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador David Beckham, and supporters Rosie Huntongton-Whiteley and Dame Judi Dench will run during the broadcast and will tell you how you can donate and do your bit. The UK Government has promised to match donations to Soccer Aid pound for pound, so your input really will make a difference to the lives of children across the world.
Two star-studded squads of football legends, Hollywood A-Listers and some of the UK’s most famous faces will compete in an electrifying match all in aid of UNICEF, the world’s leading children’s organisation.
As usual two teams will face each other in the big match, England, and the Rest Of The World team. And here they are.
England
Sam Allardyce (Manager)
Robbie Williams (Assistant Manager)
Peter Reid (Coach)
Bradley Walsh (Coach)
Stephen Moyer
Jack Whitehall
Dominic Cooper
Marvin Humes
Mark Owen
Paddy McGuinness
Olly Murs
Ben Shephard
Jonathan Wilkes
Jamie Theakston
John Bishop
Danny Jones
Jamie Redknapp
Jamie Carragher
Teddy Sheringham
David Seaman
Des Walker
Matt Le Tissier
Rest Of The World
Jose Mourinho (Manager)
Michael Sheen (Captain)
Jeremy Renner
Sam Worthington
Gordon Ramsay
James McAvoy
Mark Salling
Adam Richman
Nicky Byrne
Patrick Kielty
Santiago Cabrera
Kevin Bridges
Martin Compston
Edgar Davids
Edqin van der Sar
Clarence Seedorf
Jaap Stam
Andriv Shevenko
Here’s what competitors Robbie Williams and Michael Sheen had to say about the event…
ROBBIE WILLIAMS & MICHAEL SHEEN
ROBBIE WILLIAMS
What are your best memories of previous Soccer Aid matches?
‘In terms of the matches, I think the win in 2012 was a definite highlight, especially after the penalty shoot out in 2010. It’s hard to describe the feeling when you walk out onto the Theatre of Dreams, hear the roar from the crowd, and line up next to football legends like Maradona who you remember watching as a kid.’
‘One memory that will stay with me for a long time is my trip to Mexico with UNICEF in 2012 to meet some of the children who are helped by the money raised. It was just before I became a father myself and that made it even more emotional for me. Seeing what a difference the money can make really brought home to me the real reason we’re all out on that pitch.’
Do you have any pre-match rituals / superstitions?
‘They change every Soccer Aid. I’m not sure what this year’s will be.’
What tactics have you got to win?
‘Listen to Big Sam and follow his lead, he is our leader and our hero. I’ll be his Assistant Manager this year – what a dream job.’
Have you got any pre-match advice to give your new players this year?
‘Walking out at Old Trafford is completely surreal; it’s both terrifying and thrilling and will be unlike anything they will have experienced before. My advice to them will be enjoy the experience and try and keep your ankles out of Gordon Ramsay’s way!’
Can you sum up the whole Soccer Aid experience in one sentence?
‘This was a wish I had in my bedroom one morning and look at it now. Being able to do what I love, playing football – with some of the world’s best players – whilst at the same time raising money for UNICEF to help save children’s lives, is absolutely incredible.’
MICHAEL SHEEN
What are you most looking forward to in playing in Soccer Aid 2014?
‘The rush of walking out onto the pitch at Old Trafford and lining up with some of the greats of world football is every boy’s dream isn’t it. I’m also looking forward to renewing rivalries with Robbie but arguably best of all is knowing the difference that this game of football makes. I went out to Chad last year with UNICEF to see first-hand how the money raised through Soccer Aid is helping to change children’s lives. That’s what really makes Soccer Aid so special.’
Who are you most excited about playing with / against?
‘It’s always exciting to see the new faces playing every year, and I’m looking forward to playing alongside Edgar Davids and Alessandro Del Piero – I’d much rather play alongside them than against them!’
Do you think the Rest of the World squad has what it takes to win Soccer Aid 2014?
‘If you take a look at some of the names on our team sheet it’s a who’s who of football legends – Jaap Stam, Edgar Davids, Alessandro Del Piero, Edwin Van der Sar – so we definitely have the quality to win this year. I can’t wait to get on the pitch again. After the disappointment of 2012 the Rest of the World team will be desperate to take back the Soccer Aid Trophy… But we know that Robbie and the England team won’t go down without a fight. One thing’s for sure – we’re in for quite a match.’
Can you explain what motivates you to take part in Soccer Aid and why the public should donate to UNICEF?
‘I was lucky enough to go out to Chad last year to see how UNICEF is spending the money raised by Soccer Aid in 2012. When I was there, it became incredibly clear how much these children need our support and what a difference the donations make.’
‘Millions of children around the world need urgent help and support, and Soccer Aid donations and the pound for pound UK Government Aid Match are helping UNICEF to provide this. It was a privilege to see first-hand how children’s lives are being truly changed and really put everything into perspective for me.’
What sort of training have you been doing in preparation for the big match?
‘We have the training camp a couple of days before the game, which is the first chance a lot of us have to play together, but ahead of that I’ll just been trying to keep the exercise up, make sure I’m eating right… And I might be practising a few penalties just in case it goes to a shoot-out again…’