SECOND LIVE FOREVER CUP ‘NUFC V BARCA’
For the second time in a week, a ‘Newcastle United’ team took on ‘Barcelona,’ this time in aid of cancer charities and in memory of the players’ loved ones.
And this time the team in black and white won 4-1!
The Live Forever Cup took place at Benfield FC’s Sam Smith’s Park ground in Newcastle and was organised by Iain Chisholm, originally from Walker and now living in Brisbane, Australia.
It was the second Live Forever Cup, the first was held in Brisbane in 2021, and the theme for this year’s event was chosen before Newcastle United drew Barcelona in the Champions League.
Over 40 players, all friends and family, lined up wearing black and white and blue and red stripes to raise money for our Foundation, St Benedict’s Hospice and Australian breast cancer charity, Chicks in Pink.
The event organiser, Iain, lost his dad to cancer in 2020 and his friend, Ricardo Sanjuan, lost his brother, Carlos Sanjuan, to cancer in 2024.
With support from many people, Iain decided to organise the second Live Forever Cup as a way to remember loved ones and to raise money to help others facing cancer.
Iain, who emigrated to Australia in 2013, explains: “When we organised the first Live Forever Cup, we picked England v the Rest of the World as a theme, and the England team all wore Italia ‘90 replica kit because of Sir Bobby.
Lee Clark and Iain Chisholm
“That match and the fundraising began for me in memory of my dad, but then so many other people I know began sharing their own experiences of cancer and wanted to get involved.
“We raised £5,500 for The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and Chicks in Pink and, when I knew I was coming back to England for a visit, I thought I’d try it again.
“My friend Ricardo’s from Walker, like me, but he has Spanish heritage. Very sadly, he lost his brother, Carlos, to cancer only last year and we thought Newcastle v Barcelona would be an appropriate theme given Sir Bobby’s connection to both clubs.
“When we picked the theme and date for the match, the Champions League games hadn’t been made, so we had no idea the real thing would be happening at St James’ Park just days before our game.
“Because of the time difference, I was asleep when the draw was made and, when I woke up, my phone had been going crazy. It was obviously meant to be!”
Wor Flags, the fan-funded flag display group, supported the event, while Iain organised a 33m x 3m banner featuring the faces of 47 loved ones no longer here, while the trophy was presented by former footballer and manager, Lee Clark.
Newcastle Hospitals and The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation are currently working on proposals to build a world-leading research and treatment facility next to the Northern Centre for Cancer Care at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.
The proposed Sir Bobby Robson Institute would pioneer more ground-breaking innovation in cancer treatment and significantly increase the number of clinical trials available for patients across the North East, north Cumbria and North Yorkshire.
Construction is being funded by our Foundation, with £20million already raised by supporters and a fundraising campaign set to be launched to raise the final £10million needed for the project.
