Biggest Ever Turn Out

This year saw the biggest turn-out ever for the Trust's annual Matthew Clarke football tournament which saw St. Margaret Clitherow Primary School win the trophy for the first time.

Guest of honour was former Liverpool and Charlton goalkeeper Bob Bolder who now works for the Charlton Athletic Community Trust. He said: “This is the second time I have been involved in the Matthew Clarke Football Tournament. It is a great community event held at a fantastic community facility and it is good to see so many young people playing football in such good spirit.”

In total fourteen local schools competed with a fifteenth, Discovery School, staging an exhibition match as they were too young to take part in the main competition.
Shelia Waterhouse from St Margaret Clitherow said: “We are obviously delighted as we won! I felt it was a very good atmosphere with good sportsmanship all round.”

Northwood Primary School's goalie, 10-year-old Omonefe Orogun said: “It was brilliant playing so many games and meeting Bob Bolder - he is an inspiration to me as a goalie. I would like to play for Liverpool one day.”

The event was organised by Sporting Club Thamesmead's Sports Development Worker Dan Wells who said: “This was my first Matthew Clarke Football Tournament - it was great to see so many schools represented, some fabulous football being played and a whole host of cracking goals being scored.

“The event really does go a long way to uphold the memory of Matthew Clarke, a local youngster who died 12 years ago after a long fight against cancer. A special thank you goes to Matthew's mum Marcy Clarke for attending, who together with Bob Bolder did a great job in handing out the medals and trophies to the players.”