Wayne Rooney stars in charity match organised by ex-Maccabi player

Former Manchester Maccabi winger Graeme Warner described it as a moment straight out of “dreamland” after helping organise a charity football match – with participation from football legend Wayne Rooney.

Held on Friday afternoon, the All Star Parents v Staff charity football match in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support at Manchester Grammar School (MGS)  was played in memory of Stuart Dale, a former MGS staff member.

A huge crowd of over 1,000 spectators - including the entire school -turned out to support the annual event.

Wayne Rooney at the charity football match (Photo: Zoe Hawker)[Missing Credit]

The match, which ended in 6-1 to the All Stars, saw a host of football legends take part, including Wayne Rooney, Steve McManaman, and Phil Jagielka.

Graeme Warner, who lives in Whitefield, Manchester, and whose son Lee attended MGS from 2002, has been organising the charity match for two decades. 

"It was an amazing experience playing with Wayne and the other legends in front of a huge crowd for a great cause," said Warner, who won a gold medal for Great Britain when he played football at the 1979 European Maccabi Games.

"Wayne Rooney was our star man and helped raise over £6,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support."

Graeme Warner (centre), with (l-r) Phil Jagielka, Steve McManaman, Wayne Rooney and Simon Jones (Photo: Zoe Hawker)[Missing Credit]

Warner, who previously played for Manchester Maccabi, JLB Spartak and Prestwich Heys, also reflected on the surreal nature of sharing the pitch with Rooney: "For me, the highlight was kicking off with Wayne Rooney. To have such a legend standing next to you on the pitch, you have to pinch yourself. I’ve been asking him for two or three years, but he’s been managing. He’s warming up for Soccer Aid in June and made time to play."

Also taking part were three other Jewish parents – Marc Shirman, Nigel Tobias, and Anthony Jacobs.

Warner, who organised the match single-handedly, comes from a family steeped in charitable values.

Graeme Warner with playing at the charity football match, which he has been organising for two decades (Photo: Zoe Hawker)[Missing Credit]

His father, Samuel “Sonny” Warner MBE, a former cabaret star and renowned fundraising champion, passed away in 2020 at the age of 96.  

Warner added: ”My father’s charitable values have been passed down to me, you could say!”