TOP TEAMS PLAY EXTRA TIME FOR BLAST FUND
Top teams play extra time for blast fun
By IAN STARRETT
GOLDEN boys David Beckham and Michael Owen are just two of the soccer superstars lining up to help the victims of Omagh.
Manchester United ace Beckham, who is due to marry pregnant Posh Spice Victoria Adams next summer, and Liverpool's teenage wizard Owen are set to travel with their teams to play in the bomb-ravaged Tyrone town once the current Premiership season ends.
Beckham and Owen will be journeying to the town with their world-famous teams -just two of the top English and Scottish soccer clubs who have offered to play a series of end-of-season friendlies with Irish League club Omagh Town in the latest high-profile bid to raise money for the victims of the Real IRA bombing four months ago.
As well as Manchester United and Liverpool, Glasgow rivals Rangers and Celtic and leading London clubs Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur will all visit the St Julian's Road ground, which is to install extra seating to double its capacity to 7,000 for the games.
Omagh Town manager Roy McCreadie said yesterday that he hopes the matches will significantly boost the Omagh Appeal Fund
"It will also provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the people of Omagh to see the top clubs on their doorstep," added Mr McCreadie.
Set to return to Omagh, this time with his club Manchester United, is Andy Cole, who received an award from his fans in the town just minutes before the August 15 bombing which claimed 29 lives and injured many more. Cole was visibly moved when he paid a visit to Omagh earlier this week to meet young victims of the atrocity.
The Spurs visit will give French international David Ginola the chance to be re-united too with some of the Omagh survivors he befriended when he met them at a game two months ago in Londonderry.
Spurs idol Ginola helped Derry City raise �75,000 for the Omagh fund by playing for the candystripes in a specially arranged charity game at Brandywell stadium against a star-studded eleven selected by Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy.
Long-haired Ginola, pin-up of the BBC's Paris-based 1998 World Cup panel and who now fronts Princess Diana's anti-landmine campaign, delayed playing golf with French football personality Michel Platini and Formula One legend Alain Prost to play in the game.
Ginola, mobbed by female admirers throughout his visit, said that professional footballers had responsibilities other than their bank balances to think about. He said they should try to offer something to people who had suffered problems or a tragedy in their life.
The Frenchman is believed to have been instrumental in arranging next summer's Spurs visit to St Julian's Road.
By IAN STARRETT
GOLDEN boys David Beckham and Michael Owen are just two of the soccer superstars lining up to help the victims of Omagh.
Manchester United ace Beckham, who is due to marry pregnant Posh Spice Victoria Adams next summer, and Liverpool's teenage wizard Owen are set to travel with their teams to play in the bomb-ravaged Tyrone town once the current Premiership season ends.
Beckham and Owen will be journeying to the town with their world-famous teams -just two of the top English and Scottish soccer clubs who have offered to play a series of end-of-season friendlies with Irish League club Omagh Town in the latest high-profile bid to raise money for the victims of the Real IRA bombing four months ago.
As well as Manchester United and Liverpool, Glasgow rivals Rangers and Celtic and leading London clubs Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur will all visit the St Julian's Road ground, which is to install extra seating to double its capacity to 7,000 for the games.
Omagh Town manager Roy McCreadie said yesterday that he hopes the matches will significantly boost the Omagh Appeal Fund
"It will also provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the people of Omagh to see the top clubs on their doorstep," added Mr McCreadie.
Set to return to Omagh, this time with his club Manchester United, is Andy Cole, who received an award from his fans in the town just minutes before the August 15 bombing which claimed 29 lives and injured many more. Cole was visibly moved when he paid a visit to Omagh earlier this week to meet young victims of the atrocity.
The Spurs visit will give French international David Ginola the chance to be re-united too with some of the Omagh survivors he befriended when he met them at a game two months ago in Londonderry.
Spurs idol Ginola helped Derry City raise �75,000 for the Omagh fund by playing for the candystripes in a specially arranged charity game at Brandywell stadium against a star-studded eleven selected by Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy.
Long-haired Ginola, pin-up of the BBC's Paris-based 1998 World Cup panel and who now fronts Princess Diana's anti-landmine campaign, delayed playing golf with French football personality Michel Platini and Formula One legend Alain Prost to play in the game.
Ginola, mobbed by female admirers throughout his visit, said that professional footballers had responsibilities other than their bank balances to think about. He said they should try to offer something to people who had suffered problems or a tragedy in their life.
The Frenchman is believed to have been instrumental in arranging next summer's Spurs visit to St Julian's Road.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/143
Published Date: 04-Dec-98
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