Coventry City Football Club has announced it will host a charity game in memory of soldiers who have died in Afghanistan is to be held at the Ricoh Arena next month.
Sergeant Simon Valentine from Bedworth, Lance Corporal James Fullarton and Fusilier Shaun Bush from Coventry, Fusilier Louis Carter from Nuneaton, Corporal Joey Etchells from Mossley, Fusilier Simon Annis from Salford and Fijian-born Fusilier Pat Suesue were members of the 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and were all fans of the Sky Blues.
The charity game will see sides from drawn from the Fusiliers who will play a team from the Central Networks' Hinckley depot.
The game has been organised by a former Fusilier Paddy Healy, now an engineer at Central Networks. The match will be played on Friday, May 7, at 6pm and all proceeds will go to Help for Heroes, The Royal British Legion, The Royal Fusiliers Aid Society and The Forces Children's Trust.
Tickets will be priced at£5 for adults, £3 for children or £10 for a family ticket of two adults and two children are available now.
Sergeant Simon Valentine's mother Simon's mum, Carol, said, "This is a fitting tribute to Simon, James, Louis and Shaun and their friends who died so bravely in Afghanistan. We have organised this charity game to give everyone the opportunity to pay their respects to these magnificent seven soldiers who acted so courageously.This football match is also a great way of boosting the funds of four charities which carry out such worthwhile work to help those who have been wounded in conflicts as well as provide support to their families."
"We would love to have around several thousand people at the Ricoh Arena to cheer on the players taking part.Three of the soldiers' brothers, Darryl Etchells, Sam Carter and my son, Zak, will also be playing and we hope as many people as possible from Coventry and Warwickshire will come along to this memorial match."
Chantelle and Niamh Valentine, daughters of Simon will be mascots at the match which will be preceded by a two minute silence.
Tickets are available by contacting Carol on 07519 998101, Paddy on 07736 921578 or in person with cash from Coventry City Football Club's stores at the Ricoh Arena or the City Central shop in Coventry city centre.