Sports legends & stars kick-off for mental health

Local schoolboy gathers an England legend, a Premier League winner, a World Cup quarter-finalist, and social media stars with 16 million followers, for Restore charity football match.

A star-studded charity football match is planned this month in Oxfordshire. The highly anticipated ‘Score for Restore’ charity fixture features a line-up of professional sportsmen and social media influencers, boasting a remarkable collective following of over 16 million people. Among the players are Colin Hendry, the legendary former Scottish captain and Premier League winner; Monty Panesar, the England cricket international and left-arm spin bowling maestro, Ghanaian World Cup quarter-finalist Dominic Adiyiah; and, social media influencers such as Ashley Keno and Dan Spragg, boasting a massive following of millions.

The charity match takes place on Sunday 28th January at Didcot Town FC, with kick-off at 5.30pm. The fixture is set to champion better mental health locally, with all profits going to the highly respected and renowned Oxfordshire mental health charity, Restore.

Oxfordshire schoolboy, Jack Fostekew was so impressed by Restore and their partnership with Didcot Town FC that he created Score for Restore, he says: “Score for Restore is about community de-stigmatisation, with ambition to foster a community that supports and uplifts others, preventing mental health being a topic to be ashamed of or to hide away, but rather to discuss and support openly.”

Monty Panesar, former international cricketer, says, “I am so pleased to take part in this fixture to support better mental health. Without good mental health an individual’s harmony can be troubled, and with better mental health can come peace and harmony for a brighter future. This is important work and something we can all get behind.”

AndrewsVisual, TikTok creator with an audience of over two million, says, “Mental health has affected me greatly throughout my life and I think it’s brilliant that football can help, something that brings everyone together regardless of their background or ethnicity. Football is the universal language that unites everyone.”

Pete_Boc, football content creator with quarter-of-a-million followers, adds, “I’ve made a lot of content about mental health, to support people suffering because I’ve been trained as a specialist support worker. I know the ability people have to overcome their many challenges. If you were physically unwell you’d see a doctor, right? And, it’s the same with your mind, I’d encourage people to seek help. Recovery can be supported by others, like those at Restore. This match is a great way to encourage people to be more open about mental health.”

A crowd of a thousand is anticipated and half-time live entertainment will be provided by the fans in a football challenge, with the winner receiving a signed, limited edition t-shirt from Colin Hendry. The match will kick off at 5:30pm, 28th January, at Loop Meadow Stadium, Didcot. Tickets are available online (search ‘Score for Restore’ on Eventbrite) and at the stadium turnstile (cash only), prices range from £3.50 to £7.50.