Sports starts rally round in support of Mick Ennis

A charity football match between veteran Burnley FC players, the Vintage Clarets, and St Theodore’s Old Boys, where Mick used to teach, will take place this Sunday (November 23rd) at Burnley Belvedere Football Club (1.30pm).

Burnley striker Danny Ings had already donated some boots which were auctioned on ebay while England cricket star Jimmy Anderson, a former St Theodore’s student, donated a signed England shirt, with all proceeds going to Pendleside Hospice where Mick is having treatment.

Former England and Manchester United defender Phil Neville has now got involved and donated a signed shirt he wore at a ‘legends’ game at the Allianz Arena in August while Burnley-born footballer Ollie Norwood left a message on the justgiving site set up for Mick and, as well as donating £200, has given his Northern Ireland shirt from last Friday’s clash against Romania to auction.

Ollie wrote: “Legend is the only word to describe Mennis! Top man and a great teacher. Gutted can’t make it to the game on Sunday but I’m donating my match shirt from the game v Romania.”

Nick Palich, a former pupil and friend of Mick’s, has organised the charity match and has said they have also had £550 donated from four local businesses for the game, including match sponsors, match ball sponsors and a contribution for Man of the Match.

Former St Theodore’s students Chris Casper, who was part of the Manchester United class of ‘92, former Burnley midfielder John Mullin and his brother Paul, who holds the appearance record for Accrington Stanley, will be among those turning out on the day for ‘St Ted’s’.

The Vintage Clarets side includes Roger Eli, John Deary, Graham Lancashire and David Eyres.

Mick now teaches at Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic College and has been helping the youngsters of the town for more than 40 years.

During his time as a sports-mad teacher, “Mennis” as he is affectionately known, managed school football teams to eight Lancashire Cup Finals and one national final. At cricket he managed teams to three Lancashire cricket finals.

The total is already heading towards £4,000 and donations to the hospice can be made at www.justgiving.com/mick-ennis