Marcus Mumford of Mumford & Sons (left) with Les Ferdinand
The force of football is being harnessed to help those affected by the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
Loftus Road plays host to a charity match featuring celebrities and ex-professionals.
QPR’s stadium is a mile from the North Kensington tower block where at least 80 people died in the blaze six weeks ago.
Players will include Marcus Mumford, lead singer of West London band Mumford & Sons, Hoops legend Les Ferdinand, Olly Murs, Alan Shearer, Chelsea youth coach Jody Morris, DJ Spoony, Tinie Tempah, Trevor Sinclair, Peter Crouch, David Seaman, Jarvis Cocker, Ben Cohen, Andy Sinton, Ally McCoist and Paul Merson.
Mumford has spent the last few weeks organising a free summer football programme for Grenfell children at the Westway sports centre.
A string of summer football camps will culminate in a youth finals day on the same day at the charity game.
“We have already seen a tremendous response from the community to this terrible disaster,” said Cllr Sue Fennimore, Deputy Leader of H&F Council. “This charity match underlines how everyone can help those affected to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of tragedy.”
The special fixture has been organised by the QPR in the Community Trust, thanks to a concerted effort by QPR chairman Tony Fernandes, the club’s director of football Les Ferdinand and Columbia Records’ Ferdy Unger-Hamilton.
Two thousand tickets will be distributed free to those directly affected by the fire, including families, emergency services, volunteers and those who have helped the community in its long recovery.
“As someone who grew up in the area, this is incredibly close to my heart,” said Ferdinand. “Despite the team rivalries that exist in football, I have always found this sport can unite people and communities like no other.
“In the hours and days after the tragic fire, Fulham FC, Brentford FC, Chelsea FC and ourselves worked shoulder to shoulder, uniting for the communities we live and work in.”
The game kicks off at 3pm on Saturday 2 September, with tickets at £15 for adults, £5 concessions.
Grenfell quiz night result
A recent fundraising quiz night, staged at the Nubian Life resource centre in White City, raised a magnificent £1,063.60 to support people affected by the Grenfell fire.
“It was a great success,” said Jazz Browne from the centre. “The aim was to do something that would bring people together to raise funds that will be used to make direct impact on the lives of survivors of the fire; particularly older residents and children.”
