Calum Best and former EastEnders favourite Ricky Groves are heading to Cowes this Sunday (6th September) for a celebrity football fundraiser in aid of Mountbatten.
A host of famous faces will descend on Westwood Park for the Sellebrity Soccer event, with the action kicking off at 15:00.
For Calum, son of Manchester United legend George Best, it will be his first-ever visit to the Isle of Wight, while Ricky will be returning more than 49 years after first crossing the Solent by hovercraft as a young boy.
Calum, 45, regularly pulls on his boots for Sellebrity Soccer and says combining football with raising money for good causes makes the matches particularly enjoyable.
He told Island Echo:
“I love playing most weeks with Sellebrity Soccer, which is so enjoyable as we’re raising vital funds at the same time.
“It’s the fittest I’ve ever felt due to the lifestyle I live. I keep in the gym and eat healthily.”
Calum generally plays through the centre, using his height and strength, although he is occasionally pushed up front – where he says he has a habit of finding the net.
And while celebrity football might sound like a friendly kickabout, he insists things become rather more serious once the whistle blows.
“It’s all supposed to be fun, but definitely it’s so competitive and no one likes losing.”
With the surname Best on the back of his shirt, Calum inevitably has rather more to live up to on a football pitch than most.
Asked how much of the extraordinary ability of his late father he believes he inherited, Calum said:
“If I have 1% of my dad’s ability, I’m a happy man.”
The television personality, who has appeared on shows including Celebrity Love Island, Celebrity Big Brother and Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, admits football brings his competitive streak firmly to the surface.
“It really does make me so competitive and brings the best out in me. I loved being part of those shows.”
Sunday’s match will form part of Calum’s first weekend on the Isle of Wight and he is hoping to explore while he is here – as well as helping raise money for Mountbatten.
“It’s my first visit and I’m hoping we make a big difference to the Island.
“We’re also there for the weekend, so I’m looking forward to exploring the Island. I look forward to seeing everyone on Sunday at Cowes Sports.”
While Calum will be crossing the Solent for the first time, Ricky Groves is a considerably more seasoned Island visitor.
The 58-year-old actor, best known to millions as Garry Hobbs after almost a decade in EastEnders, first came to the Isle of Wight as a young boy.
Ricky said:
“It’s my 4th visit to the Isle of Wight. My first was some 49-plus years ago as a young boy, facilitated by the hovercraft.”
Although Ricky has previously played in celebrity football matches, there will be no comeback at Westwood Park on Sunday.
He has decided his playing days are behind him – although he still intends to play his part in entertaining the crowd.
“We always get a good crowd and I try my best to entertain them off the pitch.
“I have played before and, believe me, it does get competitive, but I think it’s a younger man’s or woman’s game now, so I decided to hang up my boots.”
And more than 25 years after Garry Hobbs first appeared in Albert Square, Ricky says his famous EastEnders alter ego continues to follow him around.
“And yes, they do still call me Garry, but that’s showbiz.”
Ricky hopes Islanders will turn out in force for Sunday’s event and, most importantly, help raise money for Mountbatten.
“I’m looking forward to meeting everyone, so book your tickets and let’s help the hospice.”
Other famous faces advertised for Sunday’s match include Dan Osborne, former England cricketer Monty Panesar and internet personality Cal the Dragon, alongside a number of reality TV stars and other celebrities.
The celebrity football fundraiser takes place at Cowes Sports Football Club on Sunday (6th September), with gates opening at 13:30 ahead of the 15:00 kick-off.
General admission tickets cost £12 plus booking fee, while £25 VIP tickets include a pre-match meet-and-greet with a minimum of 10 celebrities. VIP ticket holders should arrive at 12:45.
Celebrity appearances are subject to work commitments.
