Vaders vs Veterans!

On Sunday 11 November, both UGD partners appeared in a head to head battle on the football field in aid of the charity Cots for Tots.

Rich, playing for his usual Sunday league team, Garth Vader FC, joined his team mates in pitting their skills and youth against the Veterans, a team made up of Vader’s dads, cousins, friends and other weirdos, which included UGD’s Ant, who met the criteria of being over 40 or just plain too old/out of shape to still be playing footy.

Ant speeds (ha) down the wing for the Veterans

Rich uses his (relative) youth to go around his dad, 30 years his senior

The Vaders arrived in confident mood, but the Veterans fielded enough wily experience (and 13 players at one point), to take a 1-0 lead all the way up until the closing 10 minutes, when the Vaders finally spared their blushes with an equaliser to finish the match 1-1. Win-win for everyone involved.

Although the real winners, no matter the scoreline, was the Cots for Tots appeal. The Appeal is raising £1 million to provide 4 life-saving cots and a new intensive care Suite at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St Michael’s Hospital Bristol and a Family Accommodation Suite close by.

When the idea came about to stage the charity match, an estimated £600 was hoped to be raised towards the appeal, but thanks to the massive support, good spirit and generosity shown by everyone involved the total amount raised is looking at closer to £2,000!!

A huge thank you to everyone who has contributed to the success and the great day that everyone enjoyed. Special thanks to Debbi and Mike at The Garn Inn for providing food and entertainment after the game, and to Ian Williams (Riley Sports Photography) for giving up his Sunday morning and taking some awesome photos, all of which are available to purchase and all proceeds will also go towards the appeal.