A charity football match between South Wales Police and Cardiff City raised more than £2,000 for the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital Charity.
The teams made up of police officers and Bluebird legends played at the Millennium Stadium last week, with the former professionals winning 3-1.
Former players including Scott Young, Derek Brazil, Christian Roberts and Roger Gibbins took part, with Jason Fowler, Damon Searle and Paul Evans scoring for the Cardiff City Legends.
PC Mike Sullivan scored South Wales Police’s only goal.
The match was organised by Llanishen and Llanedeyrn Neighbourhood Policing team who have chosen the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital Charity as their charity of the year for 2012. This match is one of a number of events the Police will be holding over the coming months.
Before kick off eight year old Olivia Collis, of Fairwater Cardiff, who has spent her whole life in and out of the Children’s Hospital for Wales was the centre of attention as she was a special mascot for the team of legends.
Coming from a family of huge Cardiff City fans, Olivia and her family alike were delighted that she was mascot in a game including Cardiff City veterans such as Roger Gibbins, Scott Young, Jason Perry, Damon Searle and Jeff Eckhart.
For an eight year old Olivia has had a number of hurdles to get over due to TGE Cerebral Palsy and other complications. Along with her Cerebral Palsy she suffers with Epilepsy, severe developmental delay, Ulcerative Colitis, Scoliosis and is Gastrostomy fed.
Leanne Collins, Olivia’s Mum said; “Olivia is a happy fun loving, sociable little girl, she cannot speak and communicates with switches and facial expressions. Despite all of her conditions Olivia still manages to raise a smile and enjoy life to the full. We are all delighted that she has been given this opportunity.”
Sergeant Gary Evans, from the Llanedeyrn and Llanishen neighbourhood policing team, who played in the game said: “It was a well contested game but the class and skill of the Cardiff City Legends shone through in the end.”
Chief Superintendent Alun Thomas added: “Wales undoubtedly has a strong sporting and charity ethic and this event benefits a unique charity and more importantly the children who the charity supports with such care.
“I am enormously grateful to the Millennium Stadium for letting us play at this wonderful stadium and also the officers and footballers for giving up their own time and energy to support this worthy cause.”
HSBC matched a bucket collection pound for pound, bringing the total raised to £2,000.
