Celebrity charity football match to celebrate life of ex-Springhead manager Ricky Casey

A charity football match at Springhead Football Club will go ahead on Saturday, May 11 to celebrate the life of Ricky Casey, their former player, coach and manager, who died on Wednesday, May 1 at The Christie from a rare form of kidney cancer.

The celebrity game had been intended to fund treatment for Ricky, who was currently reserve-team manager, as the National Health Service would not pay for it.

Springhead FC and the local community had already raised almost £30,000 to fund the Oldham firefighter’s treatment who had been involved at Springhead FC for 30 years.

Football club chairman Dave Donlan said: “The organisers have spoken to Ricky’s wife Nicola and his children and they want it to go ahead as a celebration of his life.

“They want to raise money which will be donated to cancer charities.”

The match, which will kick off at 1pm, will feature Oldham Athletic interim head coach Pete Wild, former Latics’ players Chris Killen and Will Haining, former Springhead striker Richie Bennett who plays at League Two club Morecambe, professional boxers Anthony Crolla, Mark Heffron and Lyndon Arthur, Coronation Street actors Harry Visinoni and Callum Harrison and well-known radio personality Mike Sweeney.

Apart from the football, there will be fun for all the family – live music, bouncy castle, auction, raffle and a barbecue. Wristbands are £5 for adults and Under-15s go free.

There will be one minute’s silence before the game on Saturday, May 3 at St John Street, Lees, between Springhead reserves and Pennington reserves in division three of the Manchester League and Ricky’s son Sheldon will play in the match which kicks off at 2pm.