A CELEBRITY team of the ‘hardest men to play football’ will be lining up for a match in Evesham to appeal to young people to say no to knife crime.
The All-Star Team has been organised by Growers United FC, Winning Mindset and former boxer turned actor Joe Egan, who will be joined by sportsmen and celebrities including world champion boxers and martial artists, footballing legends and well-known actors.
Joe, winner of more than 80 boxing matches and sparring partner to world champions Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis, said sport was an important way to reach out to young people.
“We want to appeal to young people to choose not to carry a knife, and to use all their amazing skills, talent and energy to live life instead,” he said.
“Sport is a great example of how you can channel energy in a positive way, both for your health and even as a career; just look at the young people taking to the football pitch for club or country or taking to the ring to compete at the highest level.”
Joe was once branded ‘The hardest white man on the planet’ by Mike Tyson, who has become a firm friend, and he has seen first-hand how knives can destroy lives.
“I’m a tough guy but when a friend of mine, a father of three, died recently as a result of knife crime it hit me hard. I’d get down on my knees to beg people to stop this.”
“I’m a proud man and I didn’t go to my knees when Mike Tyson or Lennox Lewis were battering me, but now I absolutely will to beg people not to carry knives.”
And Joe, who also starred in Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes films, believes young people won’t ever know their talents unless they explore them “It was only after my career in the ring that I discovered acting, and everyone in our all-stars team has a talent that they’ve worked hard to cultivate whether that’s acting, football, boxing or another sport”.
Joe’s All-Stars include former Super Middleweight champion Robin Read, Alan Kennedy, who scored decisive goals in two of Liverpool’s past European Cup victories, Game of Thrones and Football Factory actor Tamer Hassan and many more well-known names.
The game will take place at 1pm on Sunday, July 14 at Evesham United’s Spiers and Hartwell Jubilee stadium. Local community group Growers United FC will line up to play Big Joe’s All Stars, with horticulture businesses taking to the pitch to help spread the message for young people not to carry knives.
Vito Mauro of Growers United FC described why they wanted to add their support “The rise in knife crime around the UK is a huge concern and so we wanted to join Winning Mindset and Big Joe’s All Stars in sending out the message for young people not to carry knives.”
Visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/big-joe-egans-all-star-football-match-tickets-62948641080 for tickets which cost £10.
