Stars Set For Kick-Off Mar 5 2004

[SheWolf]

From IC northern Ireland

Showbiz News

Stars Set For Kick-Off
ar 5 2004

By Jeff Magill
ON Sunday, more than 80 famous faces will head to the Odyssey Arena to kick off the mammoth SoccerMagic five-aside tournament.



The celebrity event will see your favourite stars from television and pop, dribble, kick and score in a bid to raise funds for Ulster's CineMagic, the world screen festival for young people.

Joining CineMagic's patron Dermot O'Leary, who will act as compere, will be stars from soaps such as Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks and pop stars such as Nicky and Bryan from Westlife, Phixx, D-Side and So Solid Crew's Harvey.

Speaking about SoccerMagic, Dermot O'Leary said: "It's a very good publicity exercise for CineMagic and, hopefully, it will raise some awareness and money."

But there will be little chance of Dermot bringing his celebroty chums to the tourament - as he says he doesn't have any.

"To be honest, I don't really have any celebrity friends. If you asked me to bring people I've known since I was 16 I'd be alright, but not celebrities."

Keeping an eye on proceedings, alongside Dermot, will be BBC NI's sports commentator Stephen Watson and UTV's Pamela Ballantine.

There are still a few tickets left for the event, which will be the first time this many celebrities have come under one roof in the Province.

Tickets cost £15 for adults and £9 for children and are available from the Waterfront box office on 0870 243 4455

[SheWolf]

From ICNorthern Ireland pictures here.
Mar 8 2004

By Jeff Magill

BELFAST reached fever pitch yesterday as dozens of celebrities descended on the SoccerMagic five-a-side tournament at the Odyssey to raise funds for the children's charity CineMagic.

Prior to kick off, soap stars from EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks engaged in some bonhomie with pop stars such as Liberty X, D-Side, Phixx and Blazin' Squad in the Europa Hotel while hoards of teenage girls waited outside for a glimpse of their idols.

Despite two of the tournament's biggest stars, Westlife's Nicky and Bryan, pulling out at the last minute due to illness, there was an undeterred air of enthusiasm from the remaining celebrities.

And those who arrived on Saturday night were feeling a little worse for wear after a heavy night out in the Fly bar in Botanic. Hungover, but confident, were members of Harvey's Heroes - So Solid Crew's Harvey and actor and comedian Ralf Little.

"I'm one of Harvey's Heroes," said Ralf.

"Needless to say, I didn't name the team, but I reckon we'll win today. We went out last night in our tracksuits to show what we were about, Westlife heard about it and wimped out this morning." he said.

His team-mate Harvey had one small complaint: "The Northern Ireland women's team are playing in the tournament and I want everyone to know that they're international professionals. But, I'll tell you one thing, just because you're women, don't think I won't kick you," he said, laughing.



James Alexander, who plays EastEnders' Martin Fowler, was also at the event to play in Birds of A Feather star Linda Robson's team.

"Just to be asked to come over to a different country to play a game of football is brilliant," he said. "We haven't got the biggest, beefiest team, but we have a few skills."

Tony and Kevin from Liberty X were hoping fact they had a quiet-night would stand them in good stead.

"We're just hoping that everyone is too hungover to play," said Tony.

Also taking it easy the night before was SoccerMagic's host, CineMagic patron Dermot O'Leary.

"I took it easy last night, just to get my head in gear," said Dermot, who became patron of the charity in 2003 after supporting it for five years.

"I love the charity so much and they do such good work, that when I was asked, I just said 'yes, of course I'll do it'."

But no-one was more pleased than CineMagic's director Joan Burney.



"When I came up with the idea eight months ago, I thought it would be a football pitch with two teams," she said, "and now there's lots of celebrities in the Odyssey and it's a sellout. There's huge hype throughout Northern Ireland, so I'm overwhelmed by how it has all gone," she said.

The three-hour tournament was won by the CD: UK team, consisting of CD: UK producer Phil Mount and members of the Blazin' Squad and Liberty X, who beat stiff competition from Athletico Whitenoise, from Hollyoaks and Brookside, to win the tournament.

After the event, the celebrities kicked back and relaxed in style at the Apartment bar in the city centre.

[Annie]

Ananova:

Royle star collapses at football game

Royle Family star Ralf Little has left hospital after collapsing at a charity football event.

The actor left Belfast City Hospital this morning after treatment and said: "I'm absolutely fine and I'm coming home."

Little, 23, who played put-upon teenager Anthony in the hit BBC series, was taken to the hospital yesterday after collapsing at a charity five-a-side football tournament in Belfast.

Witnesses said Little fell to the ground and had a mild seizure.

Little was kept on a men's ward in the hospital for observation.

A hospital spokesman said: "He has been discharged this morning and headed back to his hotel. He sounded good after spending a comfortable night in the hospital. He was brought in for monitoring and observation."

Malcolm Browning, the actor's agent, said: "All that happened was he felt a bit ill before the game and fainted and it was decided to take him to the hospital, just an overnight stay.

"He has been working very hard lately."

Ralf was playing in Soccermagic 2004 in Belfast along with more than 80 celebrities, led by Westlife's Bryan McFadden.They were raising funds for Northern Ireland's World Screen Festival for Young People, aimed at encouraging youngsters from troubled areas to get involved in the arts.

Little has been starring in London's West End in the play Notes on Falling Leaves at the Royal Court. He is due to play the lead role in Billy Liar beginning in May.