Manchester Remembers: celebrities and legends football match for Arena bombing charities back in 2023

The Manchester Remembers charity football match is returning for 2023 with teams of football legends and celebrities once again facing each other to raise money for charities connected to the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing.

The inaugural game in 2022 was initially going to be a one-off event to mark the fifth anniversary of the appalling terrorist attack on an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester which killed 22 people.

However, the match was such a success, with more than £80,000 being raised for charities linked to victims of the bombing, that it is returning in 2023 with a second match in Oldham and an extended programme of entertainment.

Here’s what you need to know about the second Manchester Remembers match, including how to get your hands on tickets if you want to be there on the day.

When and where is Manchester Remembers happening in 2023 and what will happen on the day?

The 2023 Manchester Remembers charity football match will take place on Sunday 7 May at Oldham Athletic’s Boundary Park ground. Kick off will be at 3pm.

Last year’s inaugural match saw a crowd of around 3,500 descend on the Manchester City Academy Stadium to support the event.

As was the case last year, the match will see a team of former footballing stars taking on a celebrities’ side, with Sam Allardyce and Peter Reid once again taking on the roles of the two managers.

Big names confirmed so far include former Blackburn Rovers defender Colin Hendry, ex-Manchester United player Clayton Blackmore and Oldham Athletic fan favourite Mike Milligan.

The celebs team, meanwhile, will see the likes of Emmerdale actor Danny Miller, celebrated local chef Simon Wood and Calum Best all lacing up their boots.

To help build the atmosphere in the run-up to kick off there will be live music in the ground. Top tribute act Courtbetweeners and Hunter and the Wolves, whose frontman Lee Hunter is the brother of Lisa Lees who was killed in the Arena bombing, will play for the crowd before the game. Organisers are also searching for a third act to compelte the entertainment line-up.

Tickets are available now to buy from the Oldham Athletic website. General admission is £10 for adults and £5 for under-18s, and VIP packages and hospitality boxes are also available.

The money raised on the day will be split between five charities all set up in memory of Manchester Arena bombing victims: The Megan Hurley Foundation, Liv’s Trust, Chloe and Liam Together Forever Trust, Eilidh’s Trust and The Remembering Nell Foundation. Last year’s match brought in an incredible £82,500 for these causes.

What has been said about Manchester Remembers in 2023?

Aaron Lee, who was in attendance at the Arena on the night of the bombing working as a firefighter, organises the Manchester Remembers match together with Paul Corrigan.

He said: “We originally only intended last year’s match to be a one-off but the amount of money we raised was fantastic. Following the game with how successful it was there was a real appetite for people to be involved in it every year.

“Myself and Paul sat down and looked at it and thought there was a gap in the events calendar in Manchester for this to sit in quite nicely. Oldham Athletic got in touch with us early doors wanting to host it at their ground.

“Last year we were finding our feet and working our way through things, but now we’ve got a structure for the event. This year we’ve got the music side of it as something new but after this we will know how to do this going forward. It’s going to be a full day of an event, almost like a mini-festival.”