IT'S England vs the Rest Of The World for Seachill employees who are holding a football match to raise money for a colleague whose wife is suffering from cancer.
Workers at the fish firm will play a football match to raise money for their friend Ian Gillin – who has worked for the company for ten years – tomorrow, after discovering his wife, Angie, has terminal bone cancer.
Angie got breast cancer eight years ago but beat the disease and got the all-clear from doctors – but a year later was diagnosed with another form of the killer disease.
Unfortunately, this time doctors say the cancer is terminal so the couple are enjoying the time they have left – and they plan to spend the money on equipment that will make that time more comfortable.
Ian, 44, of Petchell Way, Grimsby, said: "It was devastating to find out that the cancer had returned, especially after she beat it once – but we knew it was always a possibility.
"We don't know if she has one year, two years or even five, but we're taking each day as it comes and enjoying what time we still have together.
"I had no idea my colleagues were planning this match until this week and I was really surprised and overwhelmed when they rang me and told me.
"Angie couldn't believe that the people I work with would spend their time trying to do something like this for us.
"We are going to use the money for medical equipment like an orthopaedic bed which will help with the pain – equipment like that is very expensive."
It's been organised by employees Glen Matthews, Stuart Douglas, Dominik Marek, Dave Thompson and Gary Peck – the eighth of its kind that Seachill have played in consecutive years.
They have raised more than £5,000 for charities such as St Andrew's Hospice and other colleagues and have usually been an epic England vs Poland battle – as there are hundreds of Polish workers at the plant.
But after Poland got hammered 7-2 in 2012, Polish national Mr Marek, defrost supervisor, is allowed to pick players from other countries to make up a Rest Of The World team.
Mr Marek said: "I'm hoping things go a little better this time round – no matter what happens, they can't go much worse. We've got a couple of good new players from Latvia and Lithuania so I think this time we stand a better chance."
Packing hall manager Mr Douglas said that the rivalry is more than just a national one – it's professional, too.
He said: "The English team is made up mostly of supervisors and managers, so it's a chance for the other guys to give them a few kicks on the pitch.
"There is definitely a bit of rivalry and there's always a bit of passion in the game, but it's all in good spirit.
"We have about 15 players on each team and a few people come to watch, too, so the atmosphere is always great.
"Ian won't be playing in the match but his brother is coming down to play."
Ian added: "As much as I'd like to, I think I'm too old and unfit to play – I'll leave it to the younger guys."
The match takes place at 3pm tomorrow at Bradley Pitches.
ON THE WEB: Visit this story at www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk to see a photo gallery of pictures the Grimsby Telegraph took at previous events in 2011 and 2012.