The Midcounties Co-operative’s popular celebrity football match will be returning to Walsall this month, with a host of TV stars set to show off their skills against a team of Midcounties colleagues to raise money for local causes.

This year’s feast of football and family fun, which will take place at Rushall Olympic Football Club on Sunday 29th September, will also include a team of veterans from Wolverhampton Wanderers in action against a team from the Rushall Olympic Football Club and Midcounties Co-operative Seniors, as well as a display by Jet2, children’s fun fair rides and a range of other creative activities.

In addition, fans will have the chance to meet the celebrities from shows including Emmerdale, Coronation Street and Hollyoaks. Anyone that buys a ticket will also be entered into a prize draw to win a 7-night holiday for two with Co-op Travel and Jet2, with the winner announced at the end of the match.

Last year, a team including Coronation Street’s Alan Halsall, best known for playing Tyrone Dobbs, and former footballer Rhodri Giggs, ran out 2-1 winners against the Midcounties team in a tense match, in front of a crowd of more than 600 people.

Money raised on the day will be donated to a number of causes, including The White House cancer support, Alzheimer’s and dementia support group The MASE Group and Walsall Street Teams, which provides help and education to young people about the risk of exploitation. Last year’s event raised more than £10,000 for local charities, and the Midcounties team is hoping to surpass that figure this year. Alistair Rowland, Chief Retail Officer for Specialist Businesses at The Midcounties Co-operative, said:

“Teaming up with well-known faces from some of the nation’s favourite soaps is a great way of raising awareness and much-needed funding for the many charity partners we support in the Black Country. Last year’s event was incredibly popular, and we hope this year will be even bigger and better.”

“We’re committed to supporting a range of causes across the communities we operate in with exciting and new fundraising initiatives and are hoping to raise thousands of pounds through ticket sales. These funds will enable each of the charities to continue the fantastic work they do for vulnerable people in the Black Country.”

The charity football match forms part of the Society’s Regional Communities strategy, which sees members and colleagues come together to provide impactful and sustainable support for local community groups through volunteering and fundraising initiatives.

Tickets are available online and gates open at 10am. The Wolverhampton Wanderers Veterans match will kick off at 11am, and the All-Stars match will begin at 2pm.