Mirfield footballers poised for five-a-side charity clash

A group of footballers from Mirfield are taking part in a charity game to raise vital hospital funds.

The Battling Fat Lads, a five-a-side team, have been fundraising for the past couple of years.

Now, they have been invited to play in a charity game later this summer.

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The team, which plays casual matches on Monday nights at Mirfield Sports Centre, were inspired to fundraise after one of their players was diagnosed with cancer.

Teammate Phil Russell said: “As men, we aren’t very good at talking about our health.

“This is our second year representing the Oddballs Foundation; a charity focusing on testicular cancer prevention.

“Our motivation for this stems from our goalkeeper Mike Sullivan who found a lump. Within two weeks, he went into hospital to have it removed.

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“He woke up after the operation and travelled from Pinderfields Hospital to Dewsbury District where his wife was in labour. He was there at the birth and thankfully five years of tests have not found any recurrence.”

Following their participation in the FA People’s Cup, the team was invited to take on London-based Two Touch AFC.

They have now agreed to travel up to Yorkshire for the charity clash at Goals Soccer Centre in Leeds on June 10. All funds will go towards the Byron Integrated Cardiology Unit in East London which helps rehabilitate heart patients, including many of the Two Touch squad, following serious cardiac episodes.

Phil, a registered nurse from Lower Hopton, added: “Football can be a hook to help change people’s lives and we’d like to thank everyone who donates.”

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