Football tournament raises £1,150 for a firefighter battling cancer

A five-a-side football tournament has raised £1,150 for a firefighter battling cancer.

Michael Matthews, 42, was diagnosed with stomach and pancreatic cancer at the end of August. He is raising money to cover his funeral costs and to support his three children. 

Michael was an on-call firefighter at Dovercourt Fire Station before joining Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service as a wholetime firefighter three years ago.

Crew Manager Norman Gooch fro Dovercourt Fire Station organised a five-a-side tournament at Little Oakley Football Club on Sunday, 6 November.

Teams from Dovercourt Fire Station, wholetime and support colleagues in ECFRS, the East of England Ambulance Service, Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise, Little Oakley Football Club and other local sides took part.

Norman said: “Thank you to everyone who took part. The main thing was that everyone had fun and we raised some money for Michael, who is in good spirits and stayed until the end to present the trophy.

“A big thank you must go to Little Oakley Football Club for letting us use their facilities, to Tesco for the food and a hamper for the raffle and all the other local business that donated raffle prizes. 

“The day wouldn’t have been possible without help from Firefighter Steve Rowse on the barbecue, Firefighter Chris Smith who refereed every match, at times in torrential rain, and retired Dovercourt firefighters Terry Page and Ken Dalby; it was a real team effort.”

To make a donation to Michael's fundraiser, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/big-c-please-help-support-my-beautiful-children