GB Deaf Olympic Football Team to train at Lostock ahead of Kevin Davies charity game

The GB side will train at Wanderers’ Lostock Training Ground base before spending the night at Bolton Whites Hotel in preparation for the game

The Great Britain Deaf Olympic Football Team will face former Bolton Wanderers and England star Kevin Davies’ Select XI at Ashton Town AFC at 6pm on Sunday 12 March.

Due to a lack of funding, the Great British teams are around £35,000 short for their trip to Turkey, to play in the Deaflympics this coming summer.

The game has been arranged to help raise funds with both sides working tirelessly to help raise the money, as well as relying on kind donations from the likes of former England and Manchester United defender and current Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville.

The GB side will train at Wanderers’ Lostock Training Ground base on Saturday afternoon in preparation for the match, before spending the night prior to the game at Bolton Whites Hotel.

Meanwhile ex-Whites star Davies has rounded up an outstanding team full of ex-professional footballers with even television star Ralf Little confirmed to make an appearance.

Speaking before the fundraiser, Kevin said: “My father represented the same team back in 1965, and won a silver medal in Canada. 

“I know what this meant to him and how proud he was, and how it was life changing for him. 

“I want to play my part in giving the same opportunity to the current male and female squads.”

Davies continued: “There will be some good old pros playing like Danny Higginbotham, Lee Hendrie, and Emmerson Boyce to name a few. 

“They are still some £35,000 short, and hopefully we can reduce this by a few thousand pound on the day.

“Please play your part and come down to what should be a very entertaining game of football.”

The event has been brought together by Mark Hayes, Chairman of Ashton Town AFC. 

Mark has hosted several high profile charity events at the club, including a match last year where a Dutch International Legends side was flown in to play a Wigan Athletic Legends side, which helped to raise over £11,500 for local charity Joseph's Goal.

“Mark added: “It really gutted me when I read on social media that the Deaf Olympics was not funded, and that time was running out to raise the figures needed.  

“Everyone, no matter what, should have the right to represent their country doing what they love, and these guys are no different. 

“Contact was made with the GB Deaf team, and it has steam rolled from there. The only stumbling block was finding an opposition. 

“I remembered reading somewhere though that when Kevin Davies made the England team, a newspaper article mentioned that his father was deaf. 

“I managed to get a message to Kevin regarding the possibility of a game, and he didn't hesitate at all.”

The game takes place on Sunday March 12th, 6pm kick off, at Ashton Town AFC, Edge Green Street, Wigan, WN4 8SL.

Entrance is just £5 with all money raised going to the GB Deaf Team’s funds for the summer Olympics. 

Tickets are available in advance from Mark himself via northernpromise@hotmail.com, while supporters will also be able to pay on admission on the day of the game.

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