Who We Are
Rivals 4 Charity is a take off from the very successful Edinburgh Charity Game which since 2006 has managed to raise over £40,000 for local charities.
Something that started off in 2006 as an idea to have a friendly 'kick-about' between rival Hearts and Hibs supporters for a chosen charity, grew legs and turned into one of the most ambitious of projects.
The end result was to see a charity football match held at Tynecastle Stadium in front of a crowd of over 500 fans. The successful first years event raised in excess of £8,000 for the Sick Kids Hospital. The event was widely promoted in local and national radio and newspapers with an official match day magazine produced and also a DVD recorded. The game was won by Hearts by 3 goals to 2, however the biggest winner on the day was the charity.
In 2007 it was Hibs turn to host the game at Easter Road Stadium, this time Simpsons Special Care Babies was chosen as the charity and after all the money was counted up after the 3-1 win by Hibs in April of that year, over £13,500 was donated to them to help them continue the amazing work they do with premature and ill babies.
Back to Tynecastle in 2008 saw the most dramatic of matches, with Hibs racing into a 4-0 lead just after half time, Hearts then came storming back to get within a goal of their greatest rivals however Hibs managed to hold out and retained the trophy in an enthralling match playing in front of 500 fans. Thanks to another fantastic fundraising effort, Maggie's Cancer Centre at Edinburgh's Western General Hospital were richer to the tune of just over £11,000.
Tynecastle once again held the 2009 match as development work prevented Easter Road being used and once again Hibs retained the trophy thanks to a 9-8 penalty shoot out win after a hard fought 1-1 draw. This year saw CCLASP be presented with a cheque for just over £7,000 which will go a long way to helping them keep up the valuable work they do with children who have been struck down with cancer and their families.
With the Edinburgh game becoming such a success with the help of local and national media, local organisations and of course the players, coaches and fans who turn out year on year we have decided to roll this idea out nationwide and have been in positive discussions with various clubs and hope to add many more events in the coming months.
Scott Moncrieff, Sharon Moncrieff and John Pryde