NHS Nurses and Local Carers Face Off in Charity Football Match for East Cheshire Charity
There was plenty of friendly competition at Macclesfield’s Leasing.com Stadium this summer as NHS nurses took on local home care professionals in a charity football match for East Cheshire NHS Charity.
The annual Kick4Charity fixture brought together staff from Macclesfield District General Hospital and Carefound Home Care Wilmslow for a great afternoon of sport, fundraising and community support. More than 100 people watched from the sidelines, including families, clients, colleagues and local residents.
The final score gave the nurses bragging rights, with East Cheshire NHS Trust staff winning 4–2. But, as everyone involved agreed, the biggest winner was the local NHS charity.
A local football match with a bigger purpose
The match took place on Sunday 5 July 2026 at the Leasing.com Stadium, the home of Macclesfield FC.
Kick4Charity is organised by Carefound Home Care’s Wilmslow team, and this was the third year the care provider had hosted the event. Previous matches raised money for Alzheimer’s Society and Parkinson’s UK. This year, the team chose East Cheshire NHS Charity as its beneficiary.
That local focus made the event especially meaningful. The nurses on the pitch work within East Cheshire’s healthcare services, while many of the care professionals support older people and families across the surrounding area. Away from the football, both teams understand the importance of practical, compassionate care close to home.
The match was a brilliant example of how grassroots sport can bring different parts of a community together. It did not matter whether players were used to a hospital ward, a home care visit or a weekend football fixture. Once the whistle went, everyone had a role to play.
Players from Carefound Home Care and Macclesfield District General Hospital after the match. Photo supplied by Carefound Home Care.
Nurses take the honours on the pitch
The game was described as friendly but competitive, with both teams determined to put on a good performance for the crowd.
In the end, the nurses from Macclesfield District General Hospital found the net four times, while Carefound Home Care Wilmslow scored twice. That 4–2 result means the hospital team will be able to enjoy the conversation around the trophy until next year’s fixture.
For the Carefound players, however, defeat did not dampen the mood. Sarah Vickers, Community Engagement Officer at Carefound Home Care Wilmslow, said the team was already determined to bring the trophy home in the next match.
That competitive spirit is exactly what makes charity sport so enjoyable. Players can take the result seriously without losing sight of the reason they are there. The tackles are energetic, the goals are celebrated and the post-match discussions can be lively, but the fundraising purpose remains at the heart of the day.
Over £1,500 raised for East Cheshire NHS Charity
More than £1,500 was raised through entry fees, donations and a charity raffle.
East Cheshire NHS Charity supports projects that enhance patient care, provide additional equipment and improve experiences for patients, families and NHS staff across East Cheshire’s healthcare services. The charity works alongside the NHS to help fund improvements that make a genuine difference locally.
As East Cheshire NHS Trust explains, its services support a large population across community settings and hospital sites, with more than 3,300 staff working across the Trust. Fundraising events such as Kick4Charity provide another valuable way for local people to show their appreciation and help services go further.
Lily Preston, Fundraising and Events Manager at East Cheshire NHS Charity, thanked Carefound Home Care for organising the event and for its continued support. She also highlighted how good it was to see care professionals and NHS staff come together to raise money for the local NHS.
That message was reflected in the atmosphere around the stadium. The event was not only about collecting donations. It was also about recognising the people who provide care every day and giving them the chance to enjoy a different kind of team experience.
A great afternoon for families and supporters
The football match was the main attraction, but there was more happening around the ground.
Families, colleagues and local supporters gathered to watch the game, enjoy refreshments and take part in the raffle. The event offered a relaxed way for people to support a worthwhile cause without needing to be regular football fans.
The raffle prizes were generously donated by local businesses, including The Rex Wilmslow, Hickory’s Smokehouse, Champneys, Avro Golf Club, Storm Brewing, Macclesfield FC and Lancashire Cricket Club.
Support from local businesses is an important part of events like this. Donations of prizes, services, food or facilities can help a community fundraiser raise more money while also creating stronger links between organisations in the area.
Players, families and supporters gathered during the Kick4Charity event. Photo supplied by Carefound Home Care.
Why grassroots sport matters in East Cheshire
Professional football often takes the headlines, but community fixtures like this show why local sport remains so important.
Grassroots matches create opportunities for people to meet, support local causes and take part in something positive. They can bring together people who might not otherwise cross paths, from NHS teams and care workers to families, business owners and volunteers.
They also make fundraising feel accessible. A modest entry fee, a raffle ticket or a few hours spent cheering from the sidelines can combine to create a well-deserved result for a local charity.
There is something particularly enjoyable about watching people step outside their usual working roles. Nurses and carers are recognised for their professional skills every day, but on this occasion they were judged on passing, defending, running and finishing. The result was a natural, entertaining afternoon with a clear local benefit.
The match also continued Carefound Home Care’s wider involvement in the community. The company has previously supported East Cheshire NHS Charity through events including the Macclesfield Pancake Race and a dementia-friendly cinema screening in Wilmslow.
Supporting local organisations
For residents looking for care and support services in the area, the East Cheshire Directory’s Home Care Services listings are a useful starting point for finding local providers.
The Directory is locally based in Macclesfield, making it easier to discover businesses and organisations serving North East Cheshire. From care services and health providers to cafés, tradespeople and community groups, local listings help residents find support close to home.
Events like Kick4Charity are a reminder that local organisations are connected in many different ways. A home care provider can support a hospital charity. A football club can provide the venue. Local businesses can donate raffle prizes. Families can attend and contribute. Together, those small efforts can create a fantastic result.
The rematch is already on the horizon
The nurses may have won this year’s match, but Carefound’s players have made it clear that the competition is not over.
A rematch next year would give the care professionals an opportunity to respond on the pitch, while giving supporters another chance to enjoy a great community event. If previous Kick4Charity fixtures are anything to go by, there should be plenty of energy, good humour and local support when the teams meet again.
For now, everyone involved deserves a huge thank you: the players who gave up their time, the organisers, the referee, the businesses that donated prizes and the spectators who helped create such a positive atmosphere.
Most importantly, the event raised over £1,500 for East Cheshire NHS Charity. That is a fantastic achievement for a grassroots football match, and a well-deserved result for the local community.
Donations can still be made through the Kick4Charity JustGiving page. If you know of a local charity event, sports fixture or community fundraiser taking place in North East Cheshire, we would love to hear about it. Feel free to get in touch with East Cheshire Directory and help us celebrate the great things happening locally.