Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) firefighters and Grenfell Athletic, a team made up of survivors from the Grenfell tragedy, battled it out on the football pitch on Friday evening to raise money for charity.
The final score was 2-1 to GMFRS during the heavily contested match, which saw players Carlos Meakin and Kyle Barrett score goals for the team. Chief Fire Officer Dave Russel also joined the GMFRS team to show his support.
It is the second time the GMFRS team have played a friendly match against the Grenfell Athletic team, with this year’s event taking place at Hyde United Football Club in Tameside on Friday, 12th August. The match was organised to raise funds for charity, with donations on the door going to Grenfell Athletic to support the development of the club, as well as The Firefighters charity.
Grenfell Athletic was set up in response to the tragic fire at the 24-storey Grenfell Tower block of flats in North Kensington, London, on 14th June, 2017. The fire caused the deaths of 72 people. The Grenfell Athletic team was founded by Rupert Taylor and aims to support the mental health and solidarity of the group of young men who make up the squad, as well as the families who were bereaved that day.
Last year, the team took part in a tour playing against other fire service teams. It was such a success the tour has now become an annual event, with this year other emergency service teams also participating and local football teams, including Northumbria Police, Drumchapel United and London Fire Brigade.
Before the match kicked-off both teams held a 72-second silence in memory of the people who died in the Grenfell tragedy. GMFRS players also wore a unique kit containing the names of fallen UK firefighters to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Dave Russel, GMFRS Chief Fire Officer, said:
“The Greater Manchester Fire Service football team is honoured to join forces once again with Grenfell Athletic to help raise funds for two very important charities. I would like to thank the team for involving us in the amazing work they do, and we are committed to continuing to build the friendship we have made with the players.
“This year marks five years since the Grenfell tragedy took place and in Greater Manchester our thoughts will always be with those that lost their lives and the families who have been affected. It is inspiring to see the way the team has brought people together and is creating something so positive following the terrible events that day.”
