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Marcus Mumford, Damian Lewis and others line up for Grenfell Tower game

Held at QPR's Loftus Road – just one mile from the tragic West London tower block – the Game4Grenfell fundraiser will also feature Les Ferdinand, Mo Farah, Jarvis Cocker and more

Pic credit: Andrew Cotterill

Actors, musicians, footballers and a host of A-listers will come together this weekend to take part in a charity football match to raise funds for survivors of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

The Game4Grenfell will feature current and ex-pros such as Peter Crouch, Jamie Redknapp and Ally McCoist, plus sport, TV, film and music heavyweights including Mo Farah, Marcus Mumford, Damian Lewis, Jarvis Cocker, Jamie Dornan, Richard Ashcroft and Serge Pizzorno, among many others. The two teams will be managed by Les Ferdinand and Alan Shearer, who will also dust off their old boots for the occasion.

The game will be held  just one mile away from the North Kensington tower block at QPR’s Loftus Road stadium on Saturday, September 2 (3pm kick off).

Over 2,000 complimentary tickets will be issued to those directly affected by the tragedy, including families, the emergency services, volunteers, local residents and those who played their part in the recovery efforts.

The response at the beginning from government and council was shambolic and didn’t do nearly what it needed to do

Marcus Mumford, lead singer of Mumford & Sons who lives close to Grenfell Tower, spent time with survivors in the aftermath of the the June 14 disaster that claimed at least 80 lives. He also launched a free summer football programme for the young children of Grenfell.

Speaking to the Press Association, Mumford slammed the “shambolic” government response to the tragic fire. “We’ve been spending a lot of time, pretty much every day, down there listening and trying to support various groups and support the survivors whose needs are quite specific and unique,” he said. “And then, of course, the wider community as well which is traumatised.”

He added: “This is the first opportunity I’ve taken to speak publicly about it because I haven’t felt it was appropriate for me to really talk. I think everyone knows the response at the beginning from Government and council was rubbish and shambolic and didn’t do nearly what it needed to do.”

“The Grenfell Tower fire has had a huge impact on the local community, of which QPR is a massive part,” said former Hoops star Ferdinand, who grew up in W12.“This is incredibly close to my own heart.”

Sir Mo Farah, who will swap his athletic spikes for his football boots for the special cause, added: “Like everyone else, I was shocked and incredibly upset by what happened at Grenfell Tower. I grew up in West London, and have friends and family who live in the area, so to see a tragedy like that take place was just heart-breaking.

“But the way that people in the community have come together since then is amazing, and something I find incredibly inspiring. That’s why I’m excited to be taking part in the Game4Grenfell – it will help raise money for survivors and those affected by the fire, but it will also show the community how much we care. My football skills are pretty rusty, but I can’t wait to get my boots on and see what I can do!”

Tickets for Game4Grenfell – which will also be aired live on Sky 1 and Freeview channel Pick – will be priced £15 for adults and £5 concessions.

The game will act as a community event to give something back to those affected by the fire last month, with money raised from ticket sales and other fundraising initiatives passed directly to the London Community Foundation.

Main pic credit: Andrew Cotterill

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