1966 stars to be at fundraiser

Tuesday 15th September 2009, 8:55AM BST.

Two of England’s 1966 World Cup winners will be in Shropshire next month to help raise money for two good causes.

Sir Geoff Hurst, who scored a hat-trick at Wembley to secure the cup for England, and goalkeeper Gordon Banks will attend a fundraising sportsman’s dinner at The Venue at Park Hall near Oswestry on October 23.

The event is being staged by the organisers of the annual Graham Edwards Memorial Trophy football competition, which for the last 35 years has raised thousands of pounds for leukaemia research.

The competition was inaugurated in 1975, a year after the death of Mr Edwards, a local football player who died from leukaemia. The tournament runs in August. It is recognised by the Shropshire County Football Association, competed in by 16 teams and is used as a good guide for the pre-season build-up to their local leagues.

Secretary Wayn Martayn said this year the proceeds from the annual fundraising dinner would go towards leukaemia research and Help for Heroes, the charity for service personnel injured in conflict.