Stoppers keeping clean sheets for charity!

Thamesmead Town are urging their fans and visiting supporters to back their ‘Clean Sheet Cancer Challenge’ this season at Bayliss Avenue.

To support Cancer Research UK, the Ryman North club’s officials announced on Friday that their keepers will all be wearing a special pink keeper’s kit over the campaign and appealing for sponsorship and donations to keep clean sheets.

Supporters can take part online via www.justgiving.com/cleansheet1 or donate the old fashioned way using specially installed collection tubs in the Mead Bar at the club's Sporting Club Thamesmead home on matchdays.

More than one in three people in the UK will develop cancer at some point in their lives and the club chose the charity challenge to support the efforts of keeper Rob Budd whose sister Emma sadly lost her battle against cancer in 2012 aged 35, leaving behind a husband and two children.

The 40 years of work Cancer Research UK has undertaken is credited with helping survival rates more than double and Mike Green, the club's head of marketing and communications, said they are looking forward to helping Budd and his fellow keepers raise as much money as possible.

He said: "We as a club were looking for a charity partner this season and we were looking into a way of doing it so that it stands out. And what better way than have one of your players wearing a bright pink kit and that is where Buddy got involved. I spoke to him and he loved the idea and knew immediately who we should approach to fundraise for."

Budd said: "It was a huge shock when Emma first told the family but she fought the disease all the way. In the end she'd fought the various cancers for three years during which time everyone at the club was fantastic as she lived in South Africa and the club helped me out and gave me money towards flights and stuff as I kept going back and forth over course of a few months.

"She was an amazing person who never moaned just got on with it - she was always positive. I miss her everyday - she was an inspiration to all her knew her and touched everyone that came into her life. When Mike asked me if I wanted to get involved I jumped at the chance once we got the okay from the club and the league.

"It’s my chance to give a little back to the wonderful people who helped Emma during the three years and hopefully help to find a cure or help Cancer Research UK continue their fabulous work."