CELEBRITY and local footballers are limbering up alongside friends and family of a former Solihull Moors player for a charity football match in his memory.
The first event – held in memory of Nick Mowl who committed suicide on May 16 last year – takes place at Solihull Moors Football Club on Damson Parkway on May 12.
Birmingham City’s Craig Gardner and Paul Robinson will be walking out onto the pitch with former Aston Villa stars Stilian Petrov and Brian Little as well as others including Mark Yates, Solihull Moors manager in memory of Nick and to raise funds for The Kaleidoscope Plus Group charity.
From 9.30am teams are set to go head-to-head in the five-a-side under-10, under-12 and open-age tournaments in a bid to be crowned the first Nick Mowl Cup winners.
As well as football matches there will be bouncy castles, stalls, inflatable football pitches, football speed shot competition, face painting, food and drink on offer.
So far a whopping £8,000 has been raised in Nick’s memory and organisers are hoping to tip the £10,000-mark on the day.
One of the organisers Richard Beale said they are hoping the money they raise will go towards a text scheme at Kaleidoscope Plus Group to help those with suicidal thoughts keep safe.
The charity are hoping to use the monies raised to help employ a co-ordinator and a text service operator who will lead in the management and co-ordination of the national text service.
Richard said: “We wanted to do something in to remember Nick in a way that he would have enjoyed and what better way than through a football tournament.
“Nick loved football, it was his life, we want as many people to be involved as possible to help do something in Nick’s memory.
“We wanted to raise money for a project that will make a difference and hopefully that is what the text scheme will do.
“If we can help just one person from going through what Nick did we know we will have mad a difference to someone’s life.”
During an impressive playing career Nick played for Knowle FC, Solihull Borough (now Solihull Moors), Stratford Town and Bedworth United.
He was also a coach at Solihull College, Birmingham City University, Premier Skills and for the juniors at Coventry City, before taking his in-demand skills overseas to America and latterly Australia.
Nick’s talents saw him take up a position in the ever-expanding American ‘soccer’ scene – joining the Temecula Valley hawks in California as a coach.
Following his death last years many of the youngsters Nick coached during his all-too-short career took to social media to pay tribute to him, describing him as one of the most genuine guys around and a great football coach who had a big impact on them and their football careers.
For more visit www.thenickmowlcup.co.uk or www.kaleidoscopeplus.org.uk about the charity.
To donate visit www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/thekaleidoscopeplusgroup/thenickmowlcup or text NICK12 £10 to 70070 to donate £10 or NICK12 £5 to 70070 to donate £5.
To get involved contact Richard on 07568376118 or email [email protected]
