2018 has been an incredible year for Sports Connections Foundation regarding to our Sporting Wishes, thanks to the fantastic fundraising events and the generosity of many of our friends, we have been able to create lasting memories for over 13 children and their families.
Our latest Sporting Wish saw SCF grant PJ, who was accompanied by his dad, the chance to go to watch the Manchester United vs Arsenal match at Old Trafford, being given the full VIP treatment.
PJ is 15 and from Partlington, Manchester and is currently bravely undergoing treatment for a brain tumour, understandably times are sometimes tough and has left PJ down but as a huge United fan he had been looking forward to his Wish all week and I can confirm his smile was ever present the whole evening, grinning from ear to ear!
The game itself ended in a 2-2 draw with Arsenal taking the lead twice via Shkodran Mustafi's header in the 26th minute and an own goal from Marcos Rojo in the 68th minute. Anthony Martial was the first Man Utd. player to equalise in the 30th minute and Jesse Lingard was the second, his goal coming only 13 seconds after Arsenal had taken the lead!
Watching the match from the VIP area of Old Trafford is an incredible experience but much to PJ's surprise he also received a personalised framed photo signed with a personal message from none other than Man Utd's £80 million star midfielder Paul Pogba as well as one of his away shirts!
He also received a signed “United legends” shirt presented to him by ex player Russell Beardsmore. For those of you unaware Russell not only won the Charity Shield (1990) and European Super Cup (1991) with Man Utd but he was one of the first wave of 'Fergie's Fledglings' - youth team players given the chance to shine in Man Utd's first team under Sir Alex Ferguson's tenure as manager from 1986-2013.
PJ was also given a match day scarf and the chance to hold Lee Martin’s 1990 FA Cup Winners medal - a match in which he scored the winning goal.
A massive thank you to all of the staff at Manchester United in The Gallery Suite who went out of their way to make PJ’s big day so special and also to our Charity Champions Gareth and Chris who, as you can see from the pictures above, helped in giving PJ and his dad a fantastic day with memories that will stay with them forever.
As is always the case a special thank you also goes out to everybody that make our Sporting Wishes possible, we are so grateful to all of our supporters who enable us as a Children's Charity to create these fantastic