What an amazing night!! 9000 One Direction Fans descended on Doncaster for the Louis Tomlinson Charity Match, in aid of Bluebell Wood, at the Keepmoat Stadium.
Louis’ Three Horseshoes side met the star-studded Rovers XI assembled by Dean Saunders.
Fans started arriving at Keepmoat Stadium in the early hours of Monday, and by lunchtime over 200 fans from as far afield as Italy and Sweden were gathered outside the ‘Couple of Quid’ West Stand to try and catch a glimpse of the members of One Direction, and more specifically Louis.
What a coup for Doncaster Rovers, Keepmoat Stadium and the Doncaster public to have the world’s number one boy band hit town. Four of the five members of the band arrived at the stadium to deafening screams as they alighted from the cars.
Louis followed his band mates to the stadium when he arrived on a Wildfreda Beehive coach with the rest of the Three Horseshoes team, a similar coach to the one the Rovers first team have been travelling the length and breadth of the country in. Rovers had purposely made this a game that everyone could afford so that we could showcase what a great Community Stadium we have in Doncaster.
Steve Uttley Media Manager: “I have been working with Louis for over two months to make this happen. It started off as a small game but soon became the event it turned into, and after the final totting up we are hoping to make over £10,000 for the fantastic charity. I wanted this to be a showcase event with one of the top music acts of today, and it certainly hit the right note. It also gave Bluebell Wood amazing coverage and raised their profile.”
The dedicated One Direction fans upped the volume level to a high pitch scream every time Louis touched the ball, something that was replicated when the other band members, Liam, Harry and Niall stood up to cheer Louis on.
A good tempered game saw Louis battle it out at the back with players such as Dean Saunders, Robbie Fowler and Brian Deane. The Three Horseshoes gave a great account of themselves against big named former players to win the game 2-1.
The name Saunders did appear under scorers for Rovers, however it wasn’t manager Dean but his 17 year old son Callum, currently a youth team player at Crewe Alexandra.
A penalty shoot out followed in front of thousands of screaming fans in the North Stand end of the Stadium. Cheering soon turned to booing when Rovers keeper’ Jon Maxted saved Louis’ penalty only for the referee to order a re-take. Louis stepped up once again but this time made no mistake and sent the keeper the wrong way to the delight of the crowd.
The stadium then erupted when Louis and his Three Horseshoes team set off for a lap of honour around the Keepmoat Stadium before a highly delighted crowd went back home.