Charity football match raises over £6,000 in support of Llandudno mother and teacher

Hundreds of people attended a charity football match on Sunday organised in support a mother and teacher from Llandudno diagnosed with breast cancer.

Lisa Eardley, aged 37, has been receiving treatment at Ward Alaw at Ysbyty Gwynedd and Maggie’s Centre at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd over the past few months after receiving a diagnosis of stage three breast cancer in August last year.

Lisa, who is a mother of one and deputy headteacher at Ysgol Deganwy, said the discovery had come as a “big shock” for her and her husband, Sean last year.

To raise money for the two charities that have provided Lisa with “amazing” care and treatment, a special football match and family fun day was arranged on Sunday at the GoGoodwins Stadium, Llandudno.

Lisa Eardley said: “One of my friends said, everyone has either been through cancer themselves, or knows someone in their family, or someone else who has been through it.

“And I think the good charities we raise money for have touched a lot of people’s hearts about, and I hope it will do something for them. It’s a really nice feeling but also because it’s about doing something that’s purposeful for the community.”

Organiser of the event was Mike Pearson, a football player and one of the best friends of Sean Eardley, who is assistant-manager of Bangor City 1876 FC and former boss of Llandudno and Caernarfon Town.

Mike used his connections to arrange a match between a Sean Eardley XI, made up of players he has managed in the Welsh leagues over the years, and an Oldham Athletic XI – where lifelong friends Sean and Mike played together as youth players.

Among the players who took to the field were former Wales defender and brother of Sean, Neal Eardley, as well as ex-Caernarfon Town players Marc Williams, Gareth Edwards and one-time Wrexham defender Neil Ashton.

Sean was also joined on the bench by Caernarfon manager Richard Davies and former ex-Llandudno boss Alan Morgan, who offered a helping hand.

And at the end of a competitive game in the heat of Llandudno, Sean Eardley’s XI won 1-0.

With over 500 in attendance on the day and over £6,000 raised for the two cancer charities, organisers hailed the day a “big success.”

Mike Pearson said: “To raise £6,000 is just incredible. There were so many faces there from the football community, from fans that hop from ground to ground, to people that Sean and myself have worked with in football over the past, however many years.

“It’s just incredible to be able to pull everyone together for such a great cause and it really was such a such a great day. Everybody was smiling and happy and really positive, and thankfully willing to put their hands in their pockets, which was, which was really amazing.

“So hopefully now that money can go and do some good, and help other people that are suffering with cancer and having the treatment.”

To donate to the fundraiser, visit the Just Giving page:

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/eardley-vs-oldham