Southport FC and Southport Hesketh Round Table are thrilled to announce the first three celebrities to feature within the upcoming Charity Match on Sunday 3rd August 2025.
This is in support of 24 families directly affected by the tragic events of 29th July 2024.
Firstly, they will be welcoming talented actor James Nelson-Joyce. Nelson-Joyce was born to a working class family from Walton, before leaving school without qualifications, unaware that he had dyslexia at the time. He went onto study at The City Of Liverpool College, perfecting his skills in acting.
Recently he has risen to fame through the release of hit TV series ‘This City Is Ours’, as well as featuring in Charlie Brooker’s ‘Black Mirror’.
This rise in stardom has led to Nelson-Joyce featuring in the widely known annual Soccer Aid Charity Match, alongside household names such as Tyson Fury and Wayne Rooney.
Also playing in the Charity Match, one of Nelson-Joyce’s Soccer Aid team mates, is Toni Duggan. Toni is a former footballer who starred for the likes of Barcelona, Manchester City and Atletico Madrid, as well as having two stints at Everton, coming through the academy before returning for 2 seasons at the end of her hugely successful career and retiring in September 2024.
Duggan won many trophies throughout her career, including both the FA Womens League Cup three times and the FA Womens Cup twice, as well as winning the WSL with Manchester City in 2016. During her time in Spain she also won the Copa De La Reina and the Copa Catalunya twice with Barcelona before becoming a Champions League runner up in the 2018-19 season. Duggan also featured many times for England, holding 79 caps and scoring 22 goals in that time.
Finally, playing against Duggan and Nelson-Joyce, was former boxer and actor Tony Bellew, Tony suffered an injury at the Soccer Aid match but has provided his full support to the club and will be in attendance at the Charity Match.
Bellew was born in Toxteth in 1982 and made his boxing debut on 6th October 2007, defeating Jamie Ambler. He then went on to win 16 consecutive fights before eventually losing at the Echo arena to Nathan Cleverly in 2011, who he later beat in 2014. Bellew then continued to rise to fame until he beat multiple title holder David Haye twice, in 2017 and 2018.
On 10th November 2018, Bellew fought the now world renowned Oleksandr Usyk, losing in the 8th round, and declaring both his respect for Usyk and his retirement shortly after in the ring. Bellew was hugely open throughout his career of his love for Everton Football Club, fighting Ilunga Makambu at Goodison Park in 2016, and regularly walking out to a version of the Z-cars tune. Bellew also featured in hit boxing films Creed and Creed 3, featuring as the main antagonist ‘Pretty’ Ricky Conlan in the 1st film and even filming some scenes at his beloved Goodison Park. More recently, Bellew has featured in popular reality TV series ‘I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!’. Bellew placed as the runner up, gaining an even larger fanbase.
With these three, this match is already shaping up to be exciting and star studded.
A Southport Round Table spokesperson said:
“We’re so proud to announce our partnership with Southport Football Club for their Celebrity Charity Football Match taking place on Sunday 3rd August at Haig Avenue.
“The proceeds will support the 24 families directly affected by the tragic events of 29th July 2024.
“Southport’s very own ‘Soccer-Aid’. All for a great cause.”
More celebrities to follow shortly, make sure to stay updated through Stand Up For Southport for more updates.
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