A growing Taunton football community is swapping competition for compassion later this month as players come together for a charity tournament supporting the Acorn Ward at Musgrove Park Hospital.
The Football Sanctuary (TFS), which recently celebrated gaining Community Interest Company (CIC) status and reaching more than 150 members, is hosting a seven-a-side tournament at Castle School's 3G pitch on Sunday, August 23.
Sixteen teams will battle it out between 10am and 2.30pm, with all entry fees and sponsorship money going towards Love Musgrove and specifically the hospital's Acorn Ward.
While there will be plenty of goals, tackles and bragging rights on offer, organisers say the real winners will be the young patients and families cared for by the ward.
The fundraising effort was inspired by one of the group's founding members, Jon Joyce, after his one-year-old daughter was admitted to Musgrove earlier this year.
Jon said: "A couple of months ago, our one-year-old had to be rushed to hospital with dangerously low oxygen levels and extremely high temperatures.
"She was taken to the Acorn Ward at Musgrove where they gave her expert care and diligently checked her oxygen levels at every opportunity.
"Thanks to their care, my little girl only had to spend a couple of days at the unit.
"However, what struck my wife and I most about the Acorn Ward was the amount of poorly babies that filled each room and the level of care and empathy the nurses had for each child.
"Ever since witnessing these heroes at work, I've felt a need to help them in any way I could and I knew our organisation, The Football Sanctuary, was the perfect opportunity to give back."
The tournament has quickly grown into a major community effort, with local businesses, players and family members getting behind the event through sponsorship and donations.
Organisers hope to raise more than £1,000 for the charity through the day.
The Football Sanctuary, which was founded to bring people together through football and support mental wellbeing, has expanded rapidly over the past year and now attracts players from across the area.
And while there may be a trophy waiting for the eventual winners, organisers say the event is about much more than what happens on the pitch.
One TFS organiser said: "This is our biggest fundraising event yet.
"Everyone involved has really got behind the cause and we're looking forward to a fantastic day of football while raising money for an amazing ward that does so much for local families."
The tournament takes place at Castle School's 3G pitch on Saturday, August 23, from 10am until 2.30pm, with spectators welcome to come along and support the teams and the fundraising effort.
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