Latest News...........
New contact details for the Shay Given Foundation
The Shay Given Foundation has a new address at the Macmillan Cancer Support office in Newcastle upon Tyne. Full details are on the contact us page.
Shay joins Manchester City
Shay Given has left Newcastle United to join Manchester City and has signed a four and a half year contract at the City of Manchester Stadium.
Shay joined the Magpies in 1997 from Blackburn Rovers and was one of Kenny Dalglish's first signings for £1.5m. In season 2001/02 Shay played in every game for Newcastle United in the Premier League and was named in the Premier League team of the season, an award Shay won again in season 2005/06.
Shay looks forward now to a new career at Manchester City and the Shay Given Foundation will continue as normal with the football and goal keeping courses going ahead in the February half term holiday period
An announcement will be made after the February half term courses relating to future football courses
More information about future SGF events to follow soon................
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The Mercedes Car has been won!
Following the Las Vegas in Toon event at St James' Park we are delighted to be able to announce that the winner of the Mercedes Car is Graham Smith who won on ticket 1831. Mr Smith was a guest of William Jarvis at the Las Vegas in Toon Christmas Extravaganza and this will certainly help to make his Christmas memorable!
More details will follow.........including a photograph of Shay with the winning ticket
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The Shay Given Christmas Party
The Moncur Suite at St James' Park was the venue for the Shay Given Foundation Christmas party on Thursday 18 December.
About 150 children and adults attended and everyone enjoyed food and drink before being entertained by Mr Merlin who put on a superb magic show. We were delighted to be able to invite along some very special guests from the children's ward at the RVI and they had a really enjoyable time.
The highlight of the night was the appearance of the main man, Shay Given. Shay after thanking everyone for coming to the party, signed autographs for everyone and posed for dozens of photographs aswell as taking time to chat to the youngsters from the RVI.
There was also money raised on the night from a raffle and from the sale of plenty of Shay merchandise, including goal-keeping gloves, shin pads, footballs, frisbees, mugs and photographs. The money raised will help towards future goal-keeping, football and multi sports courses next year.
There was also a free raffle to thank everyone for coming along and supporting the Shay Given Foundation events and Christmas Hampers and signed framed Shay prints were the prizes.
Our thanks to Katie for the administration of the party and to Jen, Claire and Lucy for all their hard work in helping to make the night run smoothly. Thanks also to photographer John Taylor from image newcastle and to the Newcastle United catering staff.
A big thankyou to Susan Justice from Brakes (our main sponsor) for all her work in helping to organise the event.
And finally a big thankyou to Shay.
Shay signing autographs
Mr Merlin and his magic show
Shay with SGF volunteer staff Lucy, Claire and Jen
One of several groups of children that met and were photographed with Shay
LAS VEGAS IN TOON CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA
Another successful fundraising night!
A Fashion Show, hairdressing on stage, a performance from X Factor's Bad Lashes, singing star Beverley Knight, Roulette and Black Jack tables, top class cuisine...... these were just some of what was on offer at the latest Shay Given Foundation fundraising event at St James' Park on Monday 8 December.
Gary Hooker and Michael Young with a hairdressing show on stage and a Fashion Show with models, assisted by Shay, and organised by Fiona Best started the night's proceedings in the Platinum Suite after the drinks reception.
It was then up to the Bamburgh Suite for a five course meal and Bad Lashes carried on the entertainment. It was then on to Shay and Steven Taylor to talk about Macmillan Cancer Support and the Toma Fund and to highlight why the night was happening, to raise money for the two mentioned charities, along with the Shay Given Foundation and the Newcastle United Foundation.
The Auction followed next and because of the generosity of so many people in the room, it proved a big success with plenty of money raised.
The main entertainment was provided by Beverley Knight and she produced a sensational performance to thrill everyone in the room. Our thanks go to Alex Roland from Moulin Music Management for making this possible.
To finish the evening there was the opportunity to visit the gaming tables kindly provided by Aspers Casino in Newcastle and Real Deal Fun Casino. Our thanks to June Alltimes and Jim Hoggins from Aspers and to Jim Scott from Real Deal.
There was a car to be won in a raffle but, unfortunately, because of circumstances beyond anyone's control, the draw had to be postponed. Our thanks go to Nic Seddon at Mercedes Benz (Newcastle) for all his support in helping to organise the car to be raffled. The draw will be made by Shay after the Shay Given Foundation Children's Christmas party at St James' Park on 18 December. The winning ticket will be posted on the Shay Given Foundation and the Newcastle United website.
Our thanks also go to Ray Gilbert of Straightline Construction as main event sponsor, to Brakes Fresh Ideas as sponsor of the Shay Given Foundation and to Newcastle United Football Club for their support to the evening. Our thanks also go to Dave Hewson at Team Digital for the top quality design and print of the flyers and the event programme.
There are scores of other individuals and companies that helped support the Las Vegas in Toon event and our thanks go out to everyone concerned, unfortunately to many to mention. We would like to give a special mention to Stilettos of Ponteland, Richard Sinton (Jewellery) and to Sherrie Hill Evening Wear.
Finally a big thank you to Shay and Jane Given for their help and support to what proved to be a sensational fundraising evening. And to Shane and Nicky from Westlife who gave up their valuable time to support Shay and Jane by attending the evening.
Nicky Byrne and Shane Filan from Westlife pictured with their partners alongside Jane and Shay
Hairdressers Gary Hooker and Michael Young pictured with Jane and Shay
The Fashion Show kicks off the night's proceedings
X Factor's Bad Lashes
The fabulous Beverley Knight and her band
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October Courses
Success again at Sedgefield and Ponteland ......but the weather beats us in Ireland!
Football and Goal-keeping at Ponteland and the same at Sedgefield, including the popular multi sports, meant that the half term holiday courses again went off well despite the cold weather during the week.
Unfortunately the weather beat us at Lifford in Ireland and the course had to be cancelled due to the constant heavy rain making the pitches unplayable.
Shay called in to the course at Ponteland to watch the training, chat to the youngsters and sign autographs. The children enjoyed a lunch time pizza on the final day and a big thank you again to Fabrizio and Paul at Fratellis.
The children at both courses received a signed photo of Shay, a certificate and the gift was the new SGF frisbee. Signed Shay footballs were given out as prizes to the children who were picked out as having 'best attitude' and 'most improved' during the week.
The next courses are in the February holidays and we have added Hermitage School in Chester le Street to the ones at Ponteland and Sedgefield. If you would like the SGF to organise a course in your area please register your interest by e mail to the shaygivenfoundation@yahoo.co.uk E mail can be sent from our 'Contacts' page.
Shay with the Goal-keeping group at Ponteland and coaching staff Michael Poolan and Claire Mildenhall
Shay signing autographs
Shay with the outfield players at Ponteland
Sedgefield photographs
Coaches Rob Welch (above) and Phil Chapel (below) at Sedgefield
Presentation to Shay!
Cianan Doherty at pitch side prior to Wigan Athletic match on 15 November presenting to Shay a gift on behalf of Deele Harps Juniors from Lifford. The crystal gift was a thank you from Deele Harps in recognition of the SGF sponsoring Deele Harps Juniors on the summer football courses in Lifford, Ireland. Cianan won a prize on the course and was invited to the match to do pitch side duty as a ball boy and tickets were also provided for Cianan's family from Lifford.
Fashion Kicks 2008 UNITED STARS ARE ROLE MODELS!
Manager Kevin Keegan and his players became catwalk stars for the evening when they gave their backing to Shay Given’s popular Fashion Kicks event.
Shay and his wife Jane organised the 2008 event, in March, in a specially-erected marquee at St. James’ Park and several of the United players went along to show off the latest fashions.
The event was in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support and the Teenage Cancer Trust. Shay is North-East Patron of Macmillan Cancer Support.
The band Westlife once again came along to perform for the packed house in the Bamburgh Suite.
And a charity auction raised thousands of pounds from a generous audience.
Photographers Ian Horrocks and Serena Taylor were there to capture the best of the catwalk action – and here are the model professionals, with the professional models …
Shay and Jane at this years event and on the catwalk Steven Taylor, Shola Ameobi and Habib Beye
Thank you from Shay....
"The event was a huge success and exceeded everyone's expectations - both in the content of the evening and the fantastic amount raised for a very worthwhile cause. This could not have been achieved without the generosity of so many people who continue to support our fundraising events.
Already some of the money raised has been used to employ a full-time Macmillan care nurse, who will give medical help and emotional support to families experiencing real hardship at an already difficult time in their lives. In addition Macmillan will provide financial help by paying heating and telephone bills. Extra bedding or treats for the children and support for caring for a sick relative are just a few ways the money will be spent. No words can explain what these small gestures mean to those families most in need.
Jane and I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the evening and from all the families who will benefit from the money raised"
Shay Given
Shay and Jane at Fashion Kicks 2006 pictured with Westlife and the night's host Ian Payne