Posted June 9, 200718 yr Last Updated: Saturday, 9 June 2007, 09:44 GMT 10:44 UK BBC Sport News England stars to play for nothing England's footballers have decided to play for the national team for free - and donate their match fees to charity. The squad are to establish a Team England Footballers Charity, which will raise more than £1m before the 2008 World Cup in South Africa. "Every player to a man is looking forward to supporting this charity," said England skipper John Terry. Football Association chief Brian Barwick added: "I am very pleased the whole squad has taken this initiative." I'm overjoyed that the England squad has chosen to support the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK The project has been co-ordinated by 1966 Entertainment - owned by David Beckham's manager Terry Byrne and Simon Fuller - which won the rights to manage the players' commercial affairs last August. Byrne told the Daily Mirror: "I am not going to say we are saving the world or that we should have haloes fitted but as a group the England players wanted to make a difference. "Some people will look at this and say, 'what is £50,000 to someone who can earn that in a week?'. "But the players didn't have to do this, they chose to. They wanted to do some good." The charities set to benefit include the Association of Children's Hospices, WellChild, the Bobby Moore Fund and the Professional Footballers Association Charity Initiatives. Stephanie Moore, widow of Bobby, said: "I'm overjoyed that the England squad has chosen to support the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK. "I know that Bobby would have been delighted." In addition to their match fees, the players are expected to undertake additional charitable activities including a grassroots initiative to help disadvantaged youth teams. Do you think this is a superb gesture by the England players or not?
June 10, 200718 yr 2008 World Cup in South Africa. :unsure: But yes, it is a good gesture. :D And it's not like they need the money.
June 10, 200718 yr It's a very good gesture by them, I mean it's not like they need to the money anyway, but if they wanted to they could still be greedy and take the money. Playing for your country is really the top honour you can have as a player, so I imagine none of the players are really fussed about the money get get when they represent England anyway because it's more about pride and being recognised than about the money.
June 10, 200718 yr TBH i don't think they should even be payed, it should be an honour to play for your country.
June 11, 200718 yr TBH i don't think they should even be payed, it should be an honour to play for your country. Course they should be paid, there is just as much chance of a career ending broken leg in an England shirt as there is one in a club shirt
June 11, 200718 yr Course they should be paid, there is just as much chance of a career ending broken leg in an England shirt as there is one in a club shirt If injuries happen they could just get compensastions. :D
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