In the past few years we have focussed our charitable work on supporting local children. Initially we put our support through Manchester Kids (now Key 103’s Cash for Kids), some of you may have attended or remember Bangon08 which was a huge success raising plenty of money. However, last year it felt like we needed to find an end-user of charitable donations as opposed to a mere facilitator, removing a layer of admin I suppose and getting us closer to the action where we can readily identify areas of support beyond purely financial input. So after some scouting around this took us to the lovely people at AuKids magazine.

AuKids is a joint venture between parent and journalist Debby Elley, whose twin sons have autism and speech and language therapist Tori Houghton. When I first met them at home at the beginning of the year I immediately realised we had found the right people to support, so important is their work and so obvious their passion for making it a charitable success.

On a personal note, it is a cause very close to heart and home. The last year has been difficult dealing with the initially heartbreaking news that my younger boy Joe who, though not yet formally diagnosed is being treated for an ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder). Words can’t describe the emotions, the fear, the grief and the pain you initially go through…but there is massive help out there to help you come to terms with what you regard as a loss of the baby you brought into the world. What Tori and Debby do very well through the magazine is encourage other parents to focus on the positives…enjoy what your child can do, as opposed to what they can’t. It’s an essential coping strategy and reduces the time you spend thinking negatively or worrying about the future.

Aside from the SN Cup earlier this year we have been busy providing creative services and pulling in favours off printers to provide marketing materials to AuKids, enabling them to attract both subscriptions and donations, the lifeblood of their efforts.

Coincidentally, Cash for Kids now also support AuKids, as do Viking Direct and Standard Life. That said, despite the excellent efforts of these businesses and plenty of individuals, Debby and Tori are still looking for further support to take the magazine to a wider audience. If you are interested in subscribing to the magazine, and I can highly recommend it, or you can offer any help at all please contact AuKids via email aukidsmag@googlemail.com

Cometh the hour, cometh the SN Cup. As promised, liquid football, in the name of a great cause, AuKids Magazine.

Ronaldo, Messi and Rooney take a backseat. Step forward Buckley, Butterworth and Lowe. This is your time. Use it wisely.

Manchizzle was the only weather on the menu, setting the atmosphere up nicely and getting the adrenaline going. As the crowds gathering at Powerleague Ardwick reached fever pitch, approaching half past the hour, it was evident what a tremendous turnout we had on our hands. Every single player had turned up. Not one cry off, not one dodgy excuse.  Unheard of in my football organising lifetime. I was then faced with the almighty task of keeping a huge squad of ‘insurance’ players happy. Tricky this rotation management style lark. Thanks to Mick Greer for agreeing to his last minute transfer!

The action was quickly underway and without a chapter and verse description of events, Studio North were bloody awful. And I mean rubbish. Overweight, undertrained, no obvious pattern to our play. Simply dreadful. Apart from one stellar performance in trouncing And Partners 6-1, there were a couple of bruising defeats as well as a 1-0 defeat by the eventual winners and a slightly unlucky 3-2 ‘derby’ loss to True North.

In the semi finals, Paramount Print beat True North on penalties while the Boulting Group comprehensively outplayed Wrights Printers in the other penultimate fixture. The final ended 2-2 with Boulting winning a dramatic penalty shoot out 1-0, deservedly hoisting the carefully crafted ceramic trophy.

The day has managed to raise £450 for charity so far and judging by the number of lads scavenging the buffet and propping up the bar afterwards a good day was had by all. A huge thank you to Steve Buckley for his massive contribution and also to the companies mentioned above for helping out. Especially and individually, Kev at True North, Adrian at And Partners, Damien at Paramount, Daniel at Wrights and the lads representing Boulting for putting up with our constant mithering this past fortnight.

It was a pleasure to lose to you all but we’ll be back.

STOP PRESS: Due to recent feedback it is worth pointing out that And Partners experienced the giddy sensation of convincingly defeating the eventual winners 3-1 in the group stages. And ‘trouncing’ is probably a touch harsh.