Tag: Non-League

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Curzon Ashton and Ashton United derby to raise support for Willow Wood Hospice

Curzon Ashton FC team posing for a photo at the Tameside Stadium with Joanne Lees from Willow Wood Hospice

Curzon Ashton Football Club’s match against local rivals Ashton United on Bank Holiday Monday will be dedicated to supporting Willow Wood Hospice.

The early-season clash at the Tameside Stadium (OL7 9HG) will be on Monday 31st August, kicking off at 3pm.

Curzon Ashton has chosen Willow Wood as its charity partner for the 2026/27 season, and supporters attending the eagerly anticipated cross-town derby will have the opportunity to make a donation and find out more about the vital care provided by the Hospice.

Curzon’s players will also be wearing t-shirts showing their support for the Hospice during the pre-match warm-up.

With both sides competing in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the fixture promises plenty of excitement on the pitch – while offering fans the chance to show their support for local people living with any life-limiting illness.

Mike Smith, Curzon Ashton Community Foundation Manager, said: “Curzon Ashton is proud to be supporting Willow Wood Hospice as our charity partner this season. The Hospice plays such an important role in our local community, supporting patients and families when they need it most.

“Football brings people together, and we hope that by dedicating this local derby to Willow Wood, we can help raise awareness of the Hospice and encourage supporters to get behind its incredible work.”

Curzon Ashton and Willow Wood Hospice staff and mascots
Curzon Ashton has partnered with the Hospice for the 2026/27 season.

Joanne Lees, Partnership Development Lead at Willow Wood Hospice, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Curzon Ashton for choosing Willow Wood as its charity partner and for dedicating this exciting local derby to supporting the Hospice.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with the local football community and raise awareness of the specialist care we provide to patients and the people closest to them across Tameside and Glossop.

“We hope supporters will come along, enjoy the match and, if they can, make a donation or find out more about how they can support Willow Wood.”

Based in Ashton-under-Lyne, Willow Wood Hospice provides specialist, compassionate and dignified care to people with any life-limiting illness across Tameside and Glossop. The Hospice also supports families and those closest to patients.

It costs £4.1 million a year to run the Hospice, which receives only 22 per cent of its funding from the government – the rest must be raised by the generosity of the community through donations, organising or supporting fundraising events, buying pre-loved items from Willow Wood’s charity shops, leaving gifts in their Wills, joining the weekly lottery, and volunteering.

Admission is £14 for adults, £10 concessions, £5 students, £2 for 12–16-year-olds, with free entry for Under-12s. A family ticket for two adults and two children under 16 costs £25. Tickets can be purchased on the gate on the day.

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Mossley make it hat-trick of Willow Wood Hospice Cup wins

Mossley AFC lifted the trophy for the third successive year as the Willow Wood Hospice Cup match raised £409.05 in support of patient care.

The Lilywhites beat Curzon Ashton 5-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw at Seel Park on Tuesday evening (21st July) as both teams continued their pre-season preparations.

Kyle Campbell – son of the late former Arsenal, Everton and Nottingham Forest striker Kevin – opened the scoring in the 35th minute for hosts Mossley, who play in the Northern Premier League West Division.

Curzon – who were relegated last season to the Northern Premier League Premier Division – turned the game around to lead before the break with two goals in as many minutes, first from Brad Holmes and then Alex Curran.

Substitute Matt Kadacz levelled five minutes into the second half for Mossley, who converted each of their spotkicks to overcome their higher-division opponents.

Lilywhites captain Mark Lees and his Mossley team-mates were presented with the cup on the pitch after the final whistle.

Supporters of both teams were able to donate in collection buckets at the ground, enter a raffle and take part in a fun sweepstake.

It was all to support the Hospice, based in Ashton-under-Lyne, which cares for patients with any life-limiting illness in Tameside and Glossop and those closest to them.

The Willow Wood Hospice Cup was an annual fixture in the local non-league football calendar for a number of years.

After a hiatus, it was revived last year by former Dukinfield councillor and Civic Mayor of Tameside, Brian Wild, and fellow long-time supporter of the Hospice, Chris Smith.

Mossley hosted the occasion for the second year in a row after beating Droylsden 4-2 on spotkicks 12 months ago following a goalless draw. They also won 2-0 at Glossop North End when the cup made a triumphant return in 2024.

The Hospice would like to thank both clubs; Brian Wild, Chris Smith and Roger Dilkes for organising and supporting the occasion; and everyone who attended and donated.

Hospice patron Brian Wild said: “It was a great game with some fantastic goals and we saw another penalty shootout to determine the winner. Congratulations to Mossley for a hat-trick of cup wins!

“Thank you to everyone at Mossley and Curzon Ashton for their generosity, getting behind the match so brilliantly and supporting the vital services that the Hospice provides to our local community.”

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Local rivals to battle for Willow Wood Hospice Cup

Two of Tameside’s non-league football clubs will go head-to-head as Mossley AFC host Curzon Ashton FC in the Willow Wood Hospice Cup.

The pre-season clash will take place at Seel Park on Tuesday 21st July, with kick-off at 7.45pm, as current holders Mossley AFC look to lift the trophy for the third successive year.

The annual fixture has long been a feature of the local football calendar and was revived in 2024 by former Civic Mayor of Tameside and Willow Wood Hospice patron Brian Wild, alongside fellow long-time Hospice supporter Chris Smith.

This year’s match carries extra significance after Curzon Ashton FC recently chose the Hospice as its Charity of Choice for the 2026/27 season.

Brian said: “The recent targeted support for the Hospice by Curzon Ashton FC has given a real spark to this year’s cup game and Curzon will want to win this one.

“However, Mossley AFC will be keen to lift the trophy and make it a hat-trick of wins, having beaten both Droylsden AFC last year and Glossop North End AFC the year before.”

Mossley AFC chairman Stephen Porter commented: “We’re delighted to be hosting the Willow Wood Hospice Cup game again this year and proud to continue our support for the work the Hospice does.

“I want the spectators to enjoy a good game and the Hospice to receive some donations for their work, but I hope our lads get the cup to stay at Seel Park for a third year, even though it will be hard against a good Curzon Ashton team.”

Curzon Ashton Community Foundation Manager Mike Smith said: “We really want to win this cup. Our club hopes to make a real difference through the partnership with Willow Wood Hospice and winning this cup will be a great start.

“We’re pleased to partner with the Hospice to help raise awareness and valuable funds. We hope that we can enhance the great work already being done by everyone at Willow Wood and look forward to working with them.”

Joanne Lees, Partnership Development Lead at Willow Wood Hospice, commented: “We are absolutely delighted that Curzon Ashton FC has chosen us as its Charity of Choice for the 2026/27 season. But we continue to enjoy the support of Mossley AFC as they host this game. I hope the best team wins.”

As well as providing an entertaining local derby, the match will raise vital funds for Willow Wood Hospice through collection buckets around the ground.

Based in Ashton-under-Lyne, Willow Wood provides specialist, compassionate care for people living with any life-limiting illness across Tameside and Glossop, supporting patients both at the Hospice and in their own homes.

It costs around £11,200 every day to provide its services, with just 22 per cent of its annual funding coming from the government. The remaining 78 per cent must be raised through the generosity of the local community.

The match also serves as an important part of both clubs’ preparations for the 2026/27 season. Alex Craddock’s Mossley AFC will compete in the Northern Premier League West Division, while Adam Barton’s Curzon Ashton begin life in the Northern Premier League Premier Division following last season’s relegation from the National League North on goal difference after an 11-year stay.

Mossley lifted the revived Willow Wood Hospice Cup in both previous editions, beating Glossop North End AFC 2-0 in 2024 before defeating Droylsden FC 4-2 on penalties after a goalless draw at Seel Park last summer.

Admission for this year’s fixture is £7 for adults, £5 for concessions, £1 for 12 to 17-year-olds, with free entry for accompanied under-12s.

The winning team will be presented with the Willow Wood Hospice Cup on the pitch immediately after the final whistle.