Passionate Pompey fan, 13, sets up Soccer Aid style football match to help loved ones with breast cancer

Jacob Lee, 13, hopes to raise more than £1,500 for Breast Cancer Now to help a family friend diagnosed in 2022 and his dad’s cousin. The lifelong season ticket holder hopes Blues supporters will rally around the cause and attend the fixture at Westleigh Park, home of Havant & Waterlooville, at midday on June 30.

A JustGiving page has been set up as part of the fundraiser, with over £1,200 being donated at the time of writing. Jacob said: “I am doing this event because my mum's friend, who’s like family, had breast cancer and she beat it in January 2023.

“My dad's cousin has breast cancer and is doing well. Since I started organising this event, two more close family friends have been diagnosed too. I want to help as many people as I can to beat breast cancer. I came up with the idea of organising a charity football match because I love football and I wanted to play in a match like Soccer Aid and I thought ‘I could organise my own charity match’ and combine football with raising money for a brilliant charity.”

Jacob has organised the entire event himself, holding a meeting with the general manager of the ground for the event, arranging sponsors, designing JWL657 flyers, flags and kits and acquiring numerous raffle prizes for the match. He also promoted the event heavily on social media.

JWL657 FC, made up of Jacob’s football teammates, will play against a team put together and managed by Portsmouth Women head coach Jay Sadler. Prizes for the winners include a Portsmouth shirt signed by the squad, a signed Pompey ball and football boots, shirts and an England shirt signed by some of the women’s team. Suggested donation entry for the match on Sunday is £1 for adults and 50p for children.