Dai Havard

Labour Party | Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney

MP Joins Soccer Stars to help Children’s Charity

Merthyr & Rhymney MP Dai Havard, and three other welsh Labour MP’s, defected from their Westminster team to join an all Wales politician’s squad to play in a charity soccer game. World Cup soccer legend Sir Geoff Hurst hosted the match and presented the new ‘MP’s FA Community Shield’.

The match raised £5,000 for the charity TRUCE that promotes soccer for children in war torn areas, such as Afghanistan.

Manchester United and Wales player coach Eric Harrison coached the welsh side. The Wales v Anglo/Scottish game ended in a two all draw but the Wales squad will keep the Shield for the first six months.

Eric says he has plans to get the Wales squad into shape to win the Shield next year. The match was a curtain raiser for the FA Community Shield between Liverpool and Arsenal played the following day.

Dai Havard MP is presenting two shirts from the game, signed by both England Manager Sven Goren Erricson and Sir Geoff Hurst, to the festival of soccer being held at Penydarren Park on Sunday.

Dai Havard MP says: “I can’t say Eric will be giving me a trial for any other team! But it was good fun and a reminder of how similar our concerns are to others across the world trying to improve their society. I was pleased to do my bit and represent our internationalist tradition while playing for Wales!”