Wednesday 16 August 2017 09:00, UK
QPR are hosting a match at Loftus Road on September 2 to raise funds for those affected by the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
The #Game4Grenfell will feature a host of current and ex-professionals such as David Seaman, Les Ferdinand, Alan Shearer and Ally McCoist, as well as celebrities including Marcus Mumford, Jarvis Cocker, Wretch 32 and Richard Ashcroft.
The 90-minute match at Loftus Road - just a mile away from the North Kensington tower block - is the brainchild of QPR chairman Tony Fernandes, Columbia Records president Ferdy Unger-Hamilton and Toast Entertainment Group.
QPR set up a relief centre at their stadium in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, and Ferdinand - the club's director of football - revealed his desire to take part in the fundraising game is a very personal one.
"This is a game about bringing the community back together," Ferdinand told Sky Sports News.
"The reason why I wanted to be part of it was because I grew up on the Lancaster West Estate, right next to the Grenfell Tower.
"All through my life from the age of five to 22 I lived on the estate, so seeing it on fire was quite surreal for me.
"I remember living on the estate and Grenfell Tower is where I learnt to play table tennis, where I learnt to play snooker and pool. There was a community centre underneath the tower. I did all of those things there when those kind of facilities were not readily available to the kids."
QPR chairman Fernandes added: "It will take years, and in some cases a lifetime, for our community to recover from this.
"We hope this match, this event, this demonstration of support, will help, in some small way, to show that all those who have been affected are not alone. We all stand together."
Former QPR striker Peter Crouch will also play in the match alongside his friend, firefighter Gregg Jules, who was directly involved in the relief effort.
More than 2,000 complimentary tickets will be issued to those directly affected by the fire, including families, the emergency services, volunteers, local residents and those who played their part in the recovery efforts in North Kensington.
Tickets for #Game4Grenfell - which has been organised by the QPR in the Community Trust group, the club's official charity - will be priced £15 for adults and £5 concessions.
For more information on the #Game4Grenfell, visit www.game4grenfell.com
