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Footy team up for sale to fund trip

1/ 7/2008

MEMBERS of a teenage soccer team are offering themselves “for sale” as part of a fund-raising drive to finance an “Italian job”.

But while the lads will be limited in what they can do, manager Joey Buchanan is applying a “no limits” approach to the auction for himself.

“As long as its legal and my wife approves I’ll do it,” said Joey, manager of Rishton United under-16s, who once jumped into the river in Witton Park to celebrate the team’s first win when they were playing at under-nines level.

“We have been together for a long time and this is a big year for the boys,” said Joey. “The club contributes several thousand pounds towards a trip to play abroad at the end of their last season as juniors and it is up to us to raise as much as we can.”

The team will be going to Italy in 2009 to play matches against local teams

The first fund-raising event is a dads v lads football match this Saturday, starting at 1 pm on the pitches at the end of Spring Street in Rishton.

That will be followed by a fun day at the Station pub on Station Road, Rishton, starting at about 2.30 pm.

As well as the team auction there will be a hog roast, raffle and Playstation 2 competition.

“It really is going to be a lot of fun for everyone,” said Joey. "There will be something for the kids as well as the adults and everyone is welcome to come along and join in.”