Charity football match pits MPs against retired pro to highlight Women’s Aid’s work stamping out domestic violence

9 months ago 65

A CHARITY football match pitted MPs against a retired pro to highlight Women’s Aid’s incredible work in stamping out domestic violence.

The organisation picked a squad of talent from the Professional Footballers Association, Fulham FC – and The Sun newsroom – to take on the Parliamentary team.

Jonathan Gullis MP grapples with the Women’s Aid team’s star striker Bas Savage[/caption]

Stephen Kinnock MP was also involved in the game at Fulham’s training ground[/caption]

The Women’s Aid team defend a free-kick next to Robin Millar MP[/caption]

The match was for the Women’s Aid campaign Football United Against Domestic Abuse[/caption]

Bas Savage, who earnt cult hero status at Brighton & Hove Albion for his mesmerising moonwalk celebration before working for the PFA, was crowned man of the match.

His five goals helped the Women’s Aid team to a resounding 6-2 victory in the Football United Against Domestic Abuse friendly at The Cottagers’ training ground in New Malden, south west London.

Stephen Kinnock, Robin Millar, Jonathan Gullis, Karl McCartney, Ben Bradley and Justin Madders were among the MPs playing on Tuesday – alongside Lord Graham Evans.

The Sun was represented by deputy editor-in-chief James Slack, editorial legal counsel Oliver Doherty, former news editor Brandon Malinsky, news reporter Andy Robinson and sport reporters Joshua Jones and Henry Tomlinson.

They were joined for the 8.30am kick-off by Fulham staff, including club CEO Alistair Mackintosh and others who work with the Premier League team’s foundation.

Teresa Parker, who developed the Football United Against Domestic Abuse campaign for Women’s Aid, said: “Everyone has a role to play in raising lifesaving awareness of domestic abuse, both men and women, and we know that football can be a powerful force for good.

“Today showed exactly that, and at Women’s Aid we’d like to thank the men’s Parliamentary Football Team for playing the Women’s Aid team at Fulham FC, as well as our incredible players from The Sun, The Professional Footballers’ Association and from the Fulham FC staff team, who led us to a 6-2 win against the parliamentarians.

“Starting important conversations about domestic abuse means that survivors know that help is out there, and there are people who will understand and believe them.”