THEIR squad list reads like a Who’s Who of screen and sport.

Since launching 18 months ago, the Supporting Charities Football Club - comprising a number of celebrity signings - has raised more than £16,000 for worthy causes.

Chris Moralee, from the club, explains: “It was set up initially with a few of us wanting to play football together for a bit of fun, then I had a thought about playing teams to support charities.

“It has taken off massively over the last 12 months where we now have a committee team behind the club of 32 players as well as the celebrities and ex pros.

“We are playing all over England now and it’s been very rewarding supporting so many different charities.”

Among their celebrity ambassadors who play, guest manage or support their events are club president and former Leeds United player David Norris; Hollyoaks actors David Kennedy and David Easter; Emmerdale’s James Hooton who plays Sam Dingle and Ash Palmisciano who plays Matty Barton in the Yorkshire-based soap; Mrs Brown’s Boys Damien McKiernan; actress and model Kelly Waite; actor and singer Tim Bradbury; actor/stuntman Stephen Burke and former Nottingham Forest player Craig Armstrong.

Other Hollyoaks actors who have pitched in to play include Owen Warner, Luke Jerdy, Jacob Roberts, Ijaz Rana, Rishi Nair, Nick Pickard, Ashley Taylor Dawson, Duayne Boachie and Aedan Duckworth. Actor, Adam Oakley, is their most recent celebrity signing.

The celebrities participating in the team’s latest charity match against Bradford Hospitals at Horsfall Stadium, Bradford, - the home of Bradford Park Avenue FC - on April 14 - include Emmerdale actors James Hooton and Ash Palmisciano Mrs Brown’s Boys’ Rory Brown, David Easter from Hollyoaks (Mac Nightingale), David Kennedy (Dirk Savage), Tim Bradbury of Tiny Tim Adventures, singer and actor Ash Stevenson, Big Brother’s Ellie Young, Sky Sports presenter Tom White, Bradford City women’s captain Maisie Norde, ex professional footballers Lee Duxbury (Bradford City), Craig Armstrong (Nottingham Forrest, Huddersfield Town, Sheffield Wednesday) and Darren Williams (Sunderland and England U21).

The proceeds from the match are for Bradford Hospitals’ Charity’s ‘Rays a Smile Appeal’ - a £250,000 campaign to make the radiology departments at Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke’s Hospital more child friendly.

More than 20,000 children and young people visit the hospital’s radiology department each year. The appeal aims to buy kit allowing young people to watch TV for distraction and create a snuggle room to soothe babies to sleep before procedures, helping medics to avoid general anaesthetic.

“It’s not just a case of re-decorating, it’s a case of bringing in new equipment as well,” explains Kelly Thornham, communications officer for Bradford Hospitals’ Charity.

Dr Faisil Ali, histopathologist at Bradford Royal Infirmary, will captain the NHS eleven. The team, including doctors, nurses, health care assistants and professional clerical staff, are currently seeking sponsorship for their team strip.

Since its formation, Supporting Charities FC have supported many charities including the Sue Ryder Manorlands hospice; Andysmanclub; Macmillan, Treetops children’s hospice; Motor Neurone Association and the Children’s Society.

Future matches include a trip to Prague in August to support Brave Bear - https://bravebear.cz - a charity run by volunteers who send personalised keepsakes to children with terminally ill or life limiting conditions.

Chris explains they are currently seeking sponsors for the trip and are hoping local businesses may be able to help towards the £2,000 they need to raise.

To help boost funds, the charity is running a Celebrity Charity Date Night Auction at The Fleece Inn, Cullingworth, on Saturday May 25.

The lucky winners have the opportunity to win dinner dates with Emmerdale’s Ash Palmisciano, former Leeds United player David Norris; Hollyoaks’ David Kennedy; actress/model Kelly Waite and actor/singer Ash Stevenson at The Raggalds, Queensbury.

To support Supporting Charities FC visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/chris-moralee-4?utm_id=125. To sponsor Bradford Hospitals’ charity team team strip call 01274 274809 or email:- charity@bthft.nhs.uk.

By Sally Clifford