Ed’s note – We have received the following email from Mike Sparkes…

Two years ago my eldest son Tom, a life long Gooner, died in an accident. Since then we have held a Memorial Match in his memory each year with all proceeds going to the Willow Foundation (Bob & Megs Wilson’s charity). Last year we raised over £3000 and this year we have set ourselves a target of £5000.

Apart from his love of Arsenal Tom was well known and liked in footballing circles in our area, so much so that the Aylesbury and District Football League renamed their cup competition the ‘Tom Sparkes League Cup’.

An overview of this year’s event is attached along with a photo of my wife and I with Bob Wilson and the ‘Tom Sparkes League Cup’.

Anyway, the memorial Match this year will be held on 31st August and I wonder whether you are able to give it a ‘plug’ on your website? We have also set up a Justgiving web page as follows: http://www.justgiving.com/mikesparkes

If this could be advertised it would be absolutely brilliant.

Ed’s note – No problem Mike, here’s the mentioned overview provided about next Sunday…

On Sunday 31st August, Wendover residents Sue and Mike Sparkes are, in association with Bucks CC Football Club, holding the 3rd Annual Memorial Football Match in memory of their son Tom who died in 2006 aged just 28. The match will be played at 2pm at the Bucks CC Sports & Social Club, Lower Road, Stoke Mandeville. Last year the event raised over £3,000 for the Willow Foundation, the charity started by ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Bob Wilson and his wife Megs following the death of their own daughter Anna to cancer. The Willow Foundation provides days out for seriously ill young adults. Once again all proceeds from this years match will be donated to Willow, and Sue and Mike are hoping to hit their target of £5,000.

The day will kick off mid-morning with ‘football fun’, followed by a match between Bucks CC Under 15’s versus East Meath United, a visiting team from the Republic of Ireland. Once again there will be an all day Bar-B-Q and Bar, a Charity Auction, and this year for the first time there is also a Prize Draw with some great prizes including £250 cash; a limited edition framed print of Thierry Henry with original signature; a family tour of Wembley Stadium; match tickets for Wycombe Wanderers and MK Dons; a Watford FC signed pennant; and many more.

Tickets for the Prize Draw cost £1 each or £5 per book and are available on the day.

If you can’t attend but would like to donate to this very worthwhile cause you can do so at http://www.justgiving.com/mikesparkes