Super striker wants more players!

By David Watters

Footballing legend Gianluca Vialli is calling on the Ryman League’s stars and fans to play in a prestigious five-a-side tournament at the Football Association’s St Georges Park in aid of Prostate Cancer UK.

With England currently preparing for their World Cup 2018 qualifier in Slovakia at the FA’s national football centre, Non League Day 2016 crowdfunders Tifosy are hosting a two-day tournament at the state-of-the-art venue on September 10 and 11.

The former Chelsea and Italy striker, an ambassador for the online campaign which is aiming to raise £10,000 for the men’s health charity, said: "To raise money and awareness we are hosting a fan day at St Georges Park, including a tournament.

"It is a great opportunity to raise money and awareness and to play in a 5-a-side tournament on pitches that are normally used by the England boys.

"They train there for all of their matches so it will be a great experience for everyone and a fun day. There will be prizes for the winners and we feel it will provide some great memories for everybody that is there."

Now 52, the FA Cup and the UEFA Cup Winners Cup winner, is proud that Tifosy is supporting Prostate Cancer UK by backing Non League Day 2016 on Saturday.

He added: “We are helping a great cause in Prostate Cancer UK. Although it is important to raise awareness, it is more important to raise money for them. So it is a great chance to play at St George’s Park, knowing that you are raising money for a great cause.

"We all love Non-League football and we all admire the work of Prostate Cancer UK. They are a very important charity. At Tifosy we promote different kinds of campaigns and we are very proud to be able to help because it is a very important cause."

As well as the chance to bid to play at St George’s, fans can also bid for signed merchandise and official Non-League Day clothing as well as tickets to see Barcelona play Las Palmas at the Nou Camp.

The online fundraising drive was launched at the start of the season with the backing of the EVO-STIK NPL, EVO-STIK League Southern, Ryman League and National League as part of a nationwide Non-League effort.

To help the Ryman's 72 clubs and their counterparts get the fundraising message out, Tifosy have been providing exclusive content for their social media feeds.

Anyone hoping to get involved should look out for the latest wave of texts, images and tweets which went out to clubs on Thursday in the countdown to this weekend’s Non League Day 2016.

For more information and to take part, head to www.tifosy.com/nld16. Alternatively, follow the campaign on Twitter @tifosy and on Facebook at /tifosyofficial.

Teams hoping to enter the 5-a-side tournament at St George's Park should visit: www.tifosy.com/nld16#reward/393.

For more information on Prostate Cancer UK visit: www.prostatecanceruk.org.

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