A crowd of over 800, including at least one Iraqi victim of kidnap and torture, turned out on a decidedly cool evening to cheer on the players at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough as they took to the field for a very special football match in aid of the Baghdad Children’s Cancer Hospital, a 40@40 event organised by Fr Paul Farrer and friends as part of Fr Paul’s bid to raise £40,000 for good causes in this his 40th year.

Click here to see photo gallery of the 40@40 Riverside football match for Baghdad Children’s Hospital.

Players young and frankly not so young included Fr John Paul Leonard whose appearance was enthusiastically cheered by a considerable turnout of support from his own parish, Fr Paul Farrer who understandably received a huge ovation, and the crowd’s favourite Fr Pat Keogh who stole the show especially when he ‘didn’t see’ his manager’s attempts to substitute him.

Four goals (two from David Gibson, and one each from Phil Luke and Paul Tillotson) from the Greco’s Brothers team were not enough to avoid defeat by the Knights’ Club team who scored five (two from both Ben Smith and Lee Freer and one from Craig Wilkinson) though only a great save by David McDonald late in the game prevented a draw. Phil Luke’s superb long distance strike was worthy of the Riverside or any other Premiership ground.

John Hinman of the Baghdad Children’s Hospital Appeal was eloquent in his praise for the wonderful evening and clearly overjoyed by the announcement that the event had raised over £13,500 for the appeal. The final figure will take into account Gift Aid donations and so will be announced later.

Thanks to everyone who supported this event in any way, but especially to Dave and Bernie Allan and all at Middlesbrough Football Club, to Boro legends Steve Vickers and Mark Proctor, to World Cup Referee George Courtney who ran the game splendidly, to Fr Pat Keogh who did so much to help publicise the game, to Keith, Chris and Mike and above all to Fr Paul without whom this would simply not have been possible.

For further information and to add your support to the Baghdad Children’s Hospital Appeal please contact John Hinman on 01642 700075 or e-mail jnhinman@gmail.com

The next 40@40 event is the bungee jump off the Transporter Bridge on June 15th in aid of Zoe’s Place Children’s Hospice. Please help Paul Farrer, David Allan, Kathryn Tillotson and Simon Carey through the justgiving web site (eg. justgiving.com/kathryntillotson). If these guys are prepared to jump off the Transporter, they clearly need help!

Sportsmen will have the opportunity to support our efforts again later in the year. On 9th September there will be a Golf Day at Teesside Golf Club supporting two charities; CLIMB in memory of baby Rosa Haycock, and the Mike McCullagh Memorial Fund. Anyone interested in entering a Team of Four should contact Fr Paul at frpaul@holynamesandstthomasmore.org.uk