This year the Annual David Marshall Charity Competition match between the representative teams of the Broch Group Mid-Essex Football League and the Pope & Smith Chelmsford Sunday League is to be played on Thursday 25^th March 2010 at Maldon Town’s ground.

The game is played in the memory of David Marshall and the money raised is donated to Moulsham Grange Children’s Centre through a charity called The Friends of the Children’s Centre.  As some of you may not be familiar with the history I thought I would take this opportunity to enlighten you.

David Marshall was a referee in our competition who died some 10 years or so ago whilst in his early 30s, leaving a wife and 2 children.  His family, including his father who was also a referee and assessor, wished to do something in his memory and the charity fixture between the Mid-Essex League and the Chelmsford Sunday League was begun.  The family nominated the Moulsham Grange Children’s Centre as the beneficiaries of any monies raised as they had had dealings with it through a family member.  All donations collected are paid over to the charity The Friends of the Children’s Centre.

Moulsham Grange Children’s Centre houses, and is a base for, specialist services for children with special needs, providing a wide range including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy.  The Friends of the Children’s Centre was established in 1986 to support patients, parents and staff by raising funds to provide extras for the children.  These range from specialist equipment & toys, to entertainment at the Christmas party.

To date the fixture between the Broch Group Mid-Essex Football League and the Pope & Smith Chelmsford Sunday League has raised £12,500; in 2009 it raised £2,400.  The two leagues, together with the Essex Veterans League and the Chelmsford Referees Society, each donate to the charity along with a number of other donors and, of course, the gate receipts on the day of the match.  Our aim this year is to exceed last year’s record total.

So, firstly, please advise the members of your Club about the fixture, secondly, come to the game and support both your representative team and The Friends of the Children’s Centre, and lastly, please consider donating further to this worthy cause.

Thank you for your time

Chris Hearn

Vice Chairman