Our Sporting Challenge Dinner held at the Hilton Deansgate Hotel in Manchester raised £15,000 for the Foundation.

Geoff was joined by Mark Hughes and Sam Allardyce who captained the challenge quiz teams, along with panelists Gareth Southgate, Danny Mills, Steve Coppell, Don Goodman and cricketer Ashley Giles who were tested on their sporting knowledge.

Quizmaster for the night was comedian and TV presenter Nick Hancock who did a great job keeping the teams in order. Steve Coppell, Ashley Giles, Mark Hughes, Nick Hancock, Geoff, Sam Allardyce, Don Goodman, Danny Mills and Gareth Southgate

The dinner was attended by over 200 guests and featured a champagne reception, three-course à la carte dinner, the sports challenge and auction of a range of sporting memorabilia.

Team Captains Mark Hughes and Sam Allardyce with Nick Hancock

The event was the idea of Cheshire-based e-commerce expert Tim Gardiner, former Manchester United Marketing Director Peter Draper and fast-food entrepreneur Peter Richards, who wanted to support the Foundation. It is hoped that the event will become a regular fixture in the Manchester sporting calendar.

 ‘Thanks to everyone who made the night such a huge success and especially to Nick Hancock, team captains Mark and Sam and our panelists Gareth, Don, Danny, Steve and Ashley who all gave their time so generously to support the Foundation,’ said Geoff

‘I would also like to say a massive thank you to JD Sports who sponsored the evening and to all those local companies who bought tables and donated prizes for the auction. Manchester did us proud!’