Carrie Dunn and Anthony Clavane to discuss coronavirus and its effect on football.
The two famous football authors, along with Colchester United fan Bryn Griffiths (pictured with Carrie), have teamed up with the U's Football in the Community team to support the FITC's Coronavirus Community Support Campaign.
A Zoom Event is being held live at 7.45pm on Saturday, with the aim of raising as as possible towards the campaign. To join the event on Saturday, click HERE.
The CUFITC are supporting Colchester’s Foodbank, Munch Clubs, GO4 Café, Barnardos and Catch 22 in the fight against the coronavirus when the need in the community is at its highest.
To find out more about the campaign, or to donate, click HERE.
The event is free of charge but the organisers will be asking you to contribute to the CUFITC Just Giving Page during the course of the evening.
Tom Tayler, Community Development Manager, explained: "It is important for us at an uncertain time like this to be helping our community in any way that we can, whether that be individuals or other organisations who need our support."
"We have created a JustGiving page dedicated to the community outreach work and would greatly appreciate any donations no matter how small.
"All donations will be used directly to support local organisations in their work to support individuals within the local community, with any surplus fundraising being used to support those most at risk to integrate back into society once government guidelines allow."
On the night, local football fans will be able to join two of England’s best football writers discussing the impact of the coronavirus crisis and how the sport is responding both locally and nationally.
The two authors will also draw upon their most recent books to discuss the changing face of football.
Carrie Dunn will be well placed to throw light on how the game is changing as she has been longlisted for the 2020 Football Book of the Year Award.
Carrie has recently published The Pride of the Lionesses the Changing Face of Women’s Football in England which is considered to be one of the best books on the women’s game.
Anthony Clavane is the Sports and Football Book of the Year winner in 2011 and his latest book Moving the Goalposts a Yorkshire Tragedy was one of the Guardian’s Sports Books of the Year in 2016.
David Bernstein, the former Football Association Chairperson, said the book ‘combines social and sporting history with total relevance to the present day’ so he should have plenty to say on the night.
To add a bit of culture to the event, Anthony Roberts from the Colchester Arts Centre will open the event with a poem.
Mike Harwood, the poet in residence at Colne Radio, is also expected to put an appearance in.
The event is been organised by the same team that put together the popular England World Cup event at the Colchester Arts Centre back in 2018.
Colchester United fan and organiser, Bryn Griffiths, said "On Saturday, we plan to have a great time with two fantastic authors, local poets and staff from Colchester United.
"We are thinking of it as a sort of Football Live Aid event but not quite so grand.
"But even more important than that, we want to get right behind the Colchester United Football in the Community Coronavirus Community Support Campaign."
You can join the event on the night from 7.30pm for a 7.45 kick-off here - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86852606907.