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Jam legend Rick Buckler "looking forward" to Sheppey visit for Jimmy Gray Memorial Day

Football, music, dance, a funk-packed Boogie Nights disco and an appearance from a drumming deity will make for a charity day to remember on Saturday.

The Jimmy Gray Memorial Day is is being held at the Sheerness East Working Men’s Club.

It's a tribute to the club’s popular former coach who died last year, aged 52, from cancer.

It starts at 10am when four veteran teams will reacquaint themselves with the football pitch for a mini-tournament where goals, as well as aches, pains and sprains will doubtless mount up.

Rick Buckler.
Rick Buckler.

In the lounge from 1pm onwards, DJ Paul Wilson will apply some post-match melodic balm with a “chill-out” set containing northern soul and 1960s tunes.

It heralds an afternoon of entertainment based around music heroes, The Jam, of whom Jimmy was a huge fan.

Rick Buckler, ex-drummer with the 1970s and 1980s serial chart-toppers, will be appearing from 2pm, signing copies of his autobiography, That’s Entertainment.

Having undertaken a whirlwind promotional tour in support – it entered Amazon’s music book charts at number one on its release last week – Rick said he is looking forward to his second Sheppey visit this year.

The Sheerness East Veteran's Team line-up before last year's Jimmy Gray Memorial Match.
The Sheerness East Veteran's Team line-up before last year's Jimmy Gray Memorial Match.

He said: “I’ve been so busy, it’ll be nice to just jump in the car and head to the Island for what should be a great afternoon for a great cause.”

As only a limited number of books will be available on the day, fans are advised to bring their own copy should they want it signed.

An acoustic tribute to The Jam will take place from 2.35pm, while Katie Jane Dance Academy will perform a routine to one of the band’s biggest hits, A Town Called Malice, at 3pm.

Throughout the afternoon, face painting and a bouncy castle will be on offer, along with a raffle featuring items including a signed pair of football boots from Liverpool and England’s Jordan Henderson, and a 1966-style England shirt signed by World Cup hat-trick hero, Sir Geoff Hurst.

DJ Thomas Felton, part of Saturday night's Boogie Nights disco team.
DJ Thomas Felton, part of Saturday night's Boogie Nights disco team.

The day’s climax will be the Boogie Nights disco, featuring Island DJs Gary Croucher and Thomas Felton.

It will start at 7pm and entry, via a wristband, costs £5.

Proceeds from the memorial day will be donated to AMMF, the charity which researches cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive cancer which forms in the bile duct.

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