Bus firms seek to score for children’s charity

Derbyshire bus operators are to face off on the football field to raise money for a local charity which grants wishes to children with a range of illnesses and disabilities.

Drivers and colleagues from trentbarton and Arriva will play a full-scale match at 2pm on Sunday August 7 at Mickleover Country Park Social Club.

Anyone is welcome to come along to support the players, with a raffle and other entertainment to enjoy.

trentbarton chose When You Wish Upon a Star as its charity for 2016 and staff across the company are organising a year of activities.

The football match is one of the Derby depot’s ideas, led by the depot’s 2016 charity champion Leighton Grimes.

Leighton, a red arrow driver, said:

“A lot of our lads are keen on football and said it would be good to have a game against another bus company. All our players are really keen to take on the Arriva team and have even been training. Arriva has been brilliant in sharing the costs of getting the match organised, so all the money we jointly raise can go to the charity. They have even bought a trophy, so we hope this fixture can become an annual event.”

The referee is also a red arrow driver, and fair play will also be maintained by linesmen from both companies. The Derby depot has been organising one charity event each month and is on target to raise the £1,800 which will pay for two children and their carers to go on When You Wish Upon a Star’s Christmas trip to Lapland to meet Santa.