Leicester’s legend of sport and rock joined forces this weekend to compete against one another in a charity football match.
Fans at Quorn Football Club saw the likes of boxer Rendall Munroe, former captain of the England rugby team and Leicester Tigers Martin Johnson, and the boys from Kasabian as they took part in a match to raise money and awareness for The Joe Humphries Memorial Trust.
Joe Humphries passed away last October from Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome (SADs). His family set up The Joe Humphries Memorial Trust in his honour and to bring about awareness of the disease.
Joe’s father Steve Humphries, former Leicester City goalkeeper, who is the Chair of the trust said “It’s taken a death of this size to realise that 12 young people a week die from SADs. Today we unite as a sporting family and community to raise awareness, educate and avoid them falling victim to this heart disease.”
A minute silence was held in memory of Joe before kick-off, which saw an exciting battle between the Leicester City Legends team and Kasabian, whose players included lead singer Tom Meighan and guitarist Sergio Pizzorno. Whilst fans of both teams came out in force, Kasabian bassist Chris Edwards was a little less positive of his sides sporting ability. “If we have as many touches as they get goals then we’ll be happy.” Only slightly proving himself right, it was the Legends who came out on top with a 4-2 victory against the rockers.
Speaking of the event and its mission in promoting awareness of the disease, Joe said “Sport speaks volumes in uniting people. We cannot accept this amount of young people who die through SADs.”
The football ground reached full capacity as 2500 fans turned up to support both the players and the cause. Raising over £10,000 with donations still pouring in, the money raised will be used to promote research and education into SADs, CPR training and wider defibrillator access.
