Soap-stars and ex-footballers go head to head to raise awareness and funds for charity
| 3rd April 2019
The Offside Trust XI played against the Hollyoaks XI this week in what was a spectacular game of football.
The game saw the likes of Nick Pickard – who is the longest serving cast member in Hollyoaks, Gary Lucy, Ryan Clayton, Aedan Duckworth, Ray Quinn, Jamie Lomas, Rhodri Giggs, Trevor Sinclair, Danny Murphy competing against one another.
The Offside Trust was established in 2016 following high-profile revelations about child sexual abuse in football. The organisation is committed to supporting survivors of abuse and working to make sport safer for children.
The sporting event was hosted by TV & Radio star Ryan Swain who caught up with some of the stars participating in the event before kick off.
When Giggsy’s brother Rhodri was asked what everyone is so eager to know on whether or not he’s joining the cast of Coronation Street, he laughed and said: “It’s all paper-talk at the moment.”
Although he didn’t deny the rumours and admitted that he would “definitely walk the famous cobbles of Weatherfield”, if producers were to confirm a potential role for him in the soap.
Jamie Lomas, who played Warren Fox, said: “It was an honour to be at the event supporting and getting behind The Offside Trust. Steve Walters who organised the event inspired the abuse story-line in Hollyoaks between Buster and Ollie.”
He confirmed that there are no plans for his character to return in the soap and he doesn’t think he will emerge as another character in others any time soon.
On preparing for such harrowing storylines in Hollyoaks, Aedan Duckworth, who plays Ollie Morgan in the soap, explained: “There were many things I did. I’ve worked closely with the charity, Survivors Manchester, speaking with them in order to give a true representation of what it may have been like for someone in Ollie’s situation.”
“I’ve also carried out my own specific research, and myself and Nathan Sussex (who plays Buster) analysed scripts together to find important moments that need highlighting.”
Aedan was just 17 years old and last year saw him nominated as best newcomer at the National Television Awards for his role iin the slow-burning saga on the Channel Four soap.
Hundreds of spectators attended the event at Swansway Stadium. The Hollyoaks XI beat The Offside Trust XI and won the match.
Money raised by the celebrity football match will go towards funding projects at The Offside Trust including an Alternative Justice Programme and safeguarding the safety of children in the football community.