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QPR announce Game For Grenfell

Ex-players, celebrities and special guests will descend on Loftus Road.

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Queens Park Rangers have announced that their Loftus Road stadium will host a Game 4 Grenfell on the 2 September 2017. Set up by QPR Chairman Tony Fernandes, Director of Football Les Ferdinand and Columbia Records’ Ferdy Unger-Hamilton, the charity event will see two teams play a 90-minute match, just one mile away from the North Kensington tower-block. The football match will give something back to those affected by the fire last month.

Championship club Queens Park Rangers will also invite famous names outside of football to Loftus Road, including Mumford & Sons lead singer Marcus Mumford, who recently launched the free summer football programme for the young children of Grenfell.

It promises to be a match like non-other, bringing together ex-Premier League and Championship players, as well as a host of celebrities.

Confirmed players include Les Ferdinand, David Seaman, Trevor Sinclair, Alan Shearer, Andy Sinton, Jody Morris, Ally McCoist and Paul Merson. They’ll be joined by Mumford, Olly Murs, Wretch 32, Ben Shephard, Damian Lewis, DJ Spoony, Tine Tempah, Jarvis Cocker, Darren Campbell, Jamie Dornan, Richard Ashcroft, Serge Pizzorno, Tamer Hassan, Ben Cohen, and James Bay.

Peter Crouch will also make an appearance, joined by his firefighter friend Gregg Jules.

Over 2,000 complimentary tickets will be issued to those directed affected by the tragedy, including families, the emergency services, volunteers, local residents and others who helped the recovery efforts in the West London borough.

Any money raised from additional ticket sales and other fundraising activities around the vent will be donated to the London Community Foundation for allocation to the Evening Standard Dispossessed Fund.

Ferdinand, who joined QPR in the Premier League in 2014, says: “As someone who grew up in the area, personally this is incredibly close to my own heart and having spoken to Tony [Fernandes], he was also keen to continue the work we’ve done in the community since the fire.

“A game, giving something back to the people of West London, seemed like the obvious thing to do, and thanks to QPR, Toast Entertainment Group and Columbia Records, the idea of a #Game4Grenfell was born.

“Despite the natural team rivalries that exist in football, I have always found that this sport can unite people and communities like no other.

“In the hours and days after the tragic fire, Fulham, Brentford, Chelsea and ourselves worked shoulder to shoulder, uniting for the communities we all live and work in.”

Queens Park Rangers, led by manager Ian Holloway, are currently playing in the Championship, at home at Loftus Road in Shepherd’s Bush, London.

QPR Chairman Tony Fernandes adds:

“This game isn’t about QPR, this game is about our community, and it’s a vehicle to bring people together; to give us all an opportunity to show solidarity.

“I spent my college days around the area affected and have always felt West London is special. The reaction after the Grenfell fire confirmed what I have always believed.

“It will take years, and in some cases a lifetime, for our community to recover from this. We hope this match, this event, this demonstration of support, will help, in some small way, to show that all those who have been affected are not alone. We all stand together.”

Game 4 Grenfell will take place on the 2 September 2017 at the Queens Park Rangers home ground. Tickets are available now.