Chairman kicking off fundraising bid

Pountney, pictured, will be on a Glassboys team pitting their sporting knowledge against West Bromwich Albion in the BBC's classic sporting gameshow four days before two teams of legends from the clubs meet at the War Memorial Ground for their now annual fundraising fixture on Sunday 8 April.

Last season’s family fun day raised a whopping £20,000 plus and the quiz night at the EVO-STIK League Premier Division club’s home on Thursday 5 April is set to kick off a four day festival of football for the charity leading up to the 2018 meeting between Stourbridge Old Boys and West Bromwich Albion Legends for the Jane Webb Memorial Trophy.

The quiz is part of efforts to pull out all the stops raising funds for the Mary Stevens Hospice this season and organisers are already hoping to top last year’s total after Western Power Distribution agreed to sponsor the fixture which was first staged in 2016.

Before heading to Coleshill Town in the quarter-finals of the Birmingham Senior Cup on Monday night, a Glassboys spokesman said: “People may recall the frankly bonkers amount we raised at last year’s fixture so this year we’ve added to the ‘show’ in order to try and generate even more funds for a cause seriously close to many people in Stourbridge and also across the Non-League family with the Mary Stevens Hospice providing end of life care for cancer sufferers.”

The charity said: “Stourbridge FC have kindly agreed to provide the venue for this heavyweight quiz, and we will announce the team members over the coming weeks and months – just to tease you for a little bit longer!

“This event, and indeed this entire weekend of football, simply wouldn’t be possible without the support of our sponsors – Western Power Distribution. So please join us in giving the guys a big hand and thank you for supporting this hospice!”

First staged in 2016 when £15,000 was raised in remembrance of local woman Jane Webb, the mother of Stourbridge Legends captain and event co-founder Matt Webb, last season’s huge family fun day also included a sporting auction and the opportunity for local children to have an once-in-a-lifetime matchday experience as mascots, ball-children and flag-bearers.

Crowds were also treated to a mascot assault course, with characters from the likes of West Bromwich Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Toys ‘R’ Us, The Tenth Lock and Mommy’s Mascots taking part in a chaotic obstacle course.

In total, more than 40 players took part in a 6-4 victory for the Baggies, including 15 former-pros led by Darren “Big Dave” Moore, pictured below, Richard Sneekes, Nigel Quashie, Geoff Horsfield and Des Lyttle. Darren Moore captained the WBA side for the second year running.

After last season’s successful event, Webb said: “It really is just still sinking in. When you look around, and all you can see is just hundreds of families enjoying the day it brings it all home. Honestly, there’s no feeling like it.

"I can’t tell everyone involved how grateful I am for making the day possible, and thank you so much to the thousands of people who came along and supported the match, I hope they all enjoyed it and we can’t wait to go again. We’ve got a trophy to win back!”

Tickets to the quiz – which includes a fish and chips dinner – are priced at £8 per person. For more information call 01384 377 778 or visit the club’s website to book online.

For more information on the Mary Stevens Hospice visit: www.marystevenshospice.co.uk.

Images courtesy of marystevenshospice.co.uk & @StourbridgeFC/Twitter

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