League hands over festive funds!

Prostate Cancer UK's Seren Evans is pictured being presented with a cheque for £1,126 from Ryman League chairman Nick Robinson at Thursday's lunch at the Wembley Hilton Hotel for sponsors, partners and officials.

The charity's community fundraising manager said: "We're delighted that the Ryman League's football family have joined the fight against prostate cancer and raised vital funds for Prostate Cancer UK.

"Ignoring prostate cancer will not beat it, and the money raised will fund ground-breaking research to fight the disease. That will help us to provide dedicated support and information to men and their families affected by this disease.

"We are proud to be the Official Charity Partner of the EFL, but our work across the beautiful game once again proves the power of football in spreading this most serious message.

"One man every hour dies from prostate cancer; it's the most common cancer in men, but we want to make prostate cancer a disease that the next generation of men do not fear. We thank the Ryman League for joining the fight."

After supporting the British Heart Foundation last term and raising thousands for the nation’s heart charity, Prostate Cancer UK was unveiled as Ryman League’s official charity for the 2016-17 campaign before Hampton & Richmond Borough and Kingstonian kicked off in August's Ryman Charity Shield.

The match, won 1-0 by the National League South-bound Beavers, raised £1,026 in gate receipts which were donated to the men's health charity by the clubs. Fundraising Ryman League officials made up the balance of £100 with the savings on postage and cards they made by sending out electronic Christmas cards this year.

Guests at the festive get-together, including National League chairman Brian Barwick and president Brian Lee MBE, were treated to lunch to thank them for their continuing support this season. Others included Caroline Barker from Radio 5 Live and The Non-League Show and Non-League Paper Alex Narey.

After welcoming new FA chairman Greg Clarke to their December board meeting before lunch, representatives from the game's governing body included Kelly Simmons MBE, FA football participation and development director, FA Leagues Committee chairman Ray Lewis, FA Premier League and FA main board director Peter McCormick and Barry Bright, leader of the FA Council and FA main board director.

Sponsors and partners at the lunch included Matthew Dashper-Hughes, chief operating officer at Ryman Stationery, Bluefin Insurance divisional director Malcolm Alexander, Nicholas Rowe from Nicholas Rowe Tailoring, Mark Anderson from Anderson Travel and Pitchero's CEO Mark Fletcher.

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