Your caring Co-op helps stars’ team
Reporter: Richard Hooton
Date published: 09 February 2009
MICHAEL LE VELL
A CELEBRITY football team that are the champions of fundraising can now help more good causes after scoring sponsorship.
The Co-operative has announced a year-long shirt sponsorship of the Allstars — a Manchester team of household names including an Oldham actor.
Club captain Michael Le Vell trained at Oldham Theatre Workshop before making his name as mechanic Kevin Webster in “Coronation Street”.
The Allstars, founded 15 years ago, made up of ex-pro footballers and celebrities, play matches to raise money for charity.
They are led by head coach Bill Tarmey, from Ashton, who plays Corrie’s Jack Duckworth, and players include Alan Halsall (Tyrone) and Ryan Thomas (Jason) among their ranks.
Other actors involved include “Hollyoaks’s” Nico Mirallegro (Newt), brothers Nick and John Pickard, (Tony and Dom), and Will Mellor (Gaz) from “Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps”.
Providing some professional talent are ex-Man Utd and England football, captain Bryan Robson, fellow Old Trafford great and Northern Ireland international Norman Whiteside, former Chelsea and Dutch international Ken Monkou, retired Scottish international Asa Hartford and ex-Liverpool full-back Alan Kennedy.
The Co-operative Allstars chairman is Ged Mason, CEO of recruitment company Morson International.
Co-operative group sponsorship manager Liz Matkin, said: “This is an exciting sponsorship for the Co-operative and we look forward to helping play our part in raising money for charity.
“The Allstars are a local team who do an excellent job of helping others less fortunate and certainly fit with our Good For Everyone brand vision.
“The Co-operative is all about sharing benefits around, so by helping the team we’re hoping it will increase the fundraising.”
Mr Mason said: “We are delighted to have The Co-operative’s support as our title sponsor. As an ethical and prestigious brand they will play a key role in assisting the fundraising effort for good causes.”
The Allstars 2009 schedule will be announced shortly.
