IRON MAIDEN Youth FC Challenge MOTÖRHEAD Youth FC to Charity Soccer Match
December 13, 2006, 17 years ago
The following report is courtesy of Maiden Norway.
According to Heavy Metal Radio, a youth football team sponsored by rock band MOTÖRHEAD will take on heavy metal rivals IRON MAIDEN in a charity match. Greenbank FC under 10s, from North Hykeham, struck a deal with Motörhead and now sport an all black kit with the band's snaggletooth logo. Since the deal was announced the team have been constantly in the media spotlight and have even featured on BBC's Football Focus. After hearing about the sponsorship, a fellow team backed by rockers Iron Maiden challenged the youngsters to a match. Maiden Youth under 10s who play in the East London and Essex League, will play Greenbank in two games next season, one at West Ham United's ground, Upton Park, the other at Hull City's KC stadium.
Manager of Greenbank, Gary Weight, who used to know singer Lemmy during his days working as a band tour manager in the 1980s said the challenge came out of the blue
"The bass player and founder of Iron Maiden, Steve Harris, has a son who plays youth football and their team has been sponsored by the band," he said. "When they heard about us they got in touch and wanted to set up a game. The first game is on May 20, with the second on May 27 in Hull. They are both celebrity charity events and they are held every year at stadiums around the country. The Iron Maiden team has been running since under sevens - it will be a real – it will be a real spectacle."The Greenbank tem got the chance to meet Motorhead last month when the band played a gig at Nottingham's Rock City.
Mr. Weight also took his son Charley (nine) who plays for Greenbank to meet The Zutons when they played at Lincoln's Engine Shed a few weeks ago.
"When we walked in the band all recognised Charley from TV," he said. "It was quite funny because the school The Zutons used to go to was Greenbank."Manager of Maiden Youth, Mark Abery, from Essex, whose son Beau plays midfield said he was looking forward to taking on the Motorhead boys.
"I organise the celebrity Soccer Six tournaments every year, which features people like ROD STEWART, ANT AND DEC AND ROBBIE WILLIAMS," he said. "It should be a really good match, it's not every day you see two teams like this taking each other on."Whatever next – CRADLE OF FILTH FC?"
