Charlie’s Charity Game

On Sunday 24th August 2025 my wife and I held our 2nd annual charity football game in honour and memory of our son Charlie Christopher Hagger. After last year’s hugely successful game, where we raised £1500, we just knew that we wanted to do it again, bigger and better.

Why, you may ask, did we decide to go through all this effort, planning and giving up our bank holiday Sunday? Well you probably already know half the reason, to raise much needed funds for a charity very close to our hearts. Of course, I will go on to speak about Chums shortly.

The main reason for both of us, is to do something for our son. An opportunity to speak about him, an occasion that is heavily focused around him and a time to spend our weekend how we would have been if he was here physically with us - doing something solely for Charlie.

From a very early stage after losing Charlie, we wanted to ensure we were able to be parents to him still. We had visions and hopes of spending our weekends doing things he would love and selfishly for me I really wanted that to be spending my Sundays taking him to football matches, just like my Dad spent so many years with me doing.

And that’s where the idea came about, Charlie’s Charity Football Game! A perfect idea that brings everything we wanted to achieve together and at the same time raises awareness, support and donations.

With much needed support from friends and family we have now held two football matches across the last year in Charlie’s name. And at this point I really need to make some special mentions. To everyone involved with Dunstable Colts, my old team, thank you for being there at my call - for rallying the players and putting on one hell of a show for everyone. To Totternhoe Fc, in particular the Chairman JP, as soon as you heard our story you opened your arms and facilities for us to use for both matches. Finally, after a gruelling battle on the pitch we needed well feeding, up step the best burgers in Bedfordshire from Eskabars in Ampthill…..unbelievable food!

As I said, we owe Chums an awful lot as a family. Their support has helped us in our darkest times, has given us the strength to continue, the opportunity to talk and enabled friendships that will last a lifetime. Raising money in charity football matches is the very least we can do for them, helping them to keep their vital services going for others who unfortunately find themselves in our position.

The day itself was a great success, a brilliant game of football where my team, the Colts Legends, ran out 3-2 winners against the current Dunstable Colts side. There was a large raffle with some amazing prizes, a kids lucky dip, a bouncy castle and a ‘wet the parents’ stocks for additional fun! All washed down with an incredible burger and a nice beer! In total we were able to raise £1,172 - thanks to everyone’s kind generosity and donations received.

Watch this space, because next year we will be going again for the 3rd year running. Bigger, better, more fun! Another great family fun day will happen, and it’s all for you Charlie - our little dinosaur 🩵🦕