Boystown Jerusalem

Over £8000 was raised at a charity sponsored football match between former Tottenham Hotspur legends, led by ex-England striker Martin Chivers, and players representing British Friends of Boys Town Jerusalem on Sunday May 20 2007.

The match, which was played in bright sunshine at Hillingdon Borough FC, saw Spurs triumph 13-4, with Chivers, at the age of 62, helping himself to a sensational hat-trick.  Other ex-Spurs players participating included Garry Brooke, Paul Moran, Steve Sedgeley, Jimmy Neighbour and Tony Galvin.

All those players representing British Friends of Boys Town Jerusalem raised a minimum of £200 in order to play, and the monies raised will go towards enriching the lives of 900+ Jewish boys and young men who study and pray at Boys Town Jerusalem, one of Israel’s leading educational residential developments.  Most of these boys come from financially disadvantaged backgrounds, broken homes or families devastated by bomb or missile attacks.

An auction at the match which included Spurs memorabilia, tickets for a forthcoming England match at Wembley, and dinner at leading kosher restaurants raised over £750.

Following the match, Martin Chivers was congratulated on recently being inducted into the Tottenham Hotspur Hall of Fame and presented with a statuette by Laurence Stein, Development Director of Boys Town Jerusalem and the two young mascots, Rebecca Stein and Jesse Kettle.

Marc Leslie who played in goal for Boys Town, and conceded a penalty after bringing down Chivers said following the game, “ I am so grateful to Boys Town for arranging this game, there was a wonderful atmosphere, and even though we lost, the score was immaterial.”

Jem Silverstone agreed, adding, “ To play in this match was a boyhood dream come true.  To play on the same pitch as my hero, Martin Chivers, was awesome.”

Laurence Stein, Development Director of British Friends of Boys Town Jerusalem, said, “ So many people played a part in ensuring the success of this match.  I am especially indebted to the Boys Town players who raised so much sponsor money, the young mascots, Rebecca Stein and Jesse Kettle who raised over £550 between them, the sponsors BDO Stoy Hayward, caterer Josepha White, and www.holdthatbackpage.com who were really supportive, as well as the crowd who never stopped cheering and of course the ex-Spurs team.”