Zak Chowdhury Memorial Trophy raises over £1,500 for charity
In partnership with local charity Ifucareshare, the second year of the inter Team Sunderland football match was played in front of over one-hundred spectators at The Ford Football Hub.
The event was in tribute to former Men’s football player Zak Chowdhury, who passed away in 2025 – and his extended family were in attendance on the evening.
University of Sunderland’s student engagement officer, Ollie Barnett, explained; “One of Team Sunderland’s main aims is to bring community to people, and that’s what we’ve shown tonight – the community that’s gathered around not only the lads but the family.
“Some of the people on my team travelled up from London, Doncaster further south.
“It shows how much Zak meant to people.”
Former Men’s football president, Danny Jackson-Brown added; “It was a great event, last year was fantastic and we wanted to do better this year, and to raise more is enough to show that.
“It’s a credit to everyone involved, from behind the scenes to on the pitch, we are just so proud.
“Football is about playing with your mates, we’re doing this for one of ours who isn’t here.
“But the beauty of it is just how many people who came here for him, for the lads and for his family.”
Former Sunderland captain and Team Sunderland coach Gary Bennett expressed how the event was crucial to ‘break down barriers’ later saying: “It’s good to talk, that’s the important message to send in these events.
“That’s the biggest hurdle which a lot of especially young people don’t get over – if you have a problem, you’ve got to talk about it.”
To finish, Danny expressed the club’s desire to continue the event; “We don’t just want a one off.
“It’s about building that legacy – and something that people will be excited for.
“Team Sunderland has Varsity, Sportsball, we want ours to be ‘whens the charity match?’
“Tonight is the first step.”
Visit Samaritans at this link, or contact at 116 123.
