THE FINAL WHISTLE: SAM THOMPSON COMPLETES EPIC 260 MILE MATCH BALL MISSION CHALLENGE RAISING MORE THAN £1.5 MILLION FOR UNICEF

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THE FINAL WHISTLE: SAM THOMPSON COMPLETES EPIC 260 MILE MATCH BALL MISSION CHALLENGE RAISING MORE THAN £1.5 MILLION FOR UNICEF

Download video & photos – Sam’s Match Ball Mission photos & footage    

More photos available on Shutterstock wire: ‘Match Ball Mission’ for Soccer Aid for UNICEF, UK 

  • Sam has battled through a painful calf injury and torrential downpours to raise an incredible £1,516,433.22 and counting for UNICEF as he delivered the Soccer Aid for UNICEF match ball from last year’s stadium, Stamford Bridge, London, to the home of this year’s match, Old Trafford, Manchester 
  • Over five grueling back-to-back endurance days Sam has smashed the ultimate test of endurance, running and peddling over 260 miles – along with a surprise speedboat across the River Mersey 
  • His final day saw him travel through Huyton, Warrington, Sale, Stretford and the Coronation Street cobbles with friends, family and fans cheering him across the finish line this morning 
  • Throughout the week a host of famous faces have shown their support including Orlando Bloom, Olivia Colman, Robbie Williams, Alex Brooker, Pete Wicks, Louise Thompson and Dame Sarah Storey 
  • The mammoth mission has been captured for a one-off special documentary: Sam Thompson’s Match Ball Mission Friday 13th June 9pm on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player 
  • There’s still time to donate, visit socceraid.org.uk/challenge – the final total will be revealed at this year’s Soccer Aid for UNICEF match broadcast on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player on Sunday 15th June. 

Friday June 6:  TV, radio and podcast host Sam Thompson has crossed his ‘Match Ball Mission’ finish line at Old Trafford raising £1,516,433.22 and counting for UNICEF as he completed the ultimate test of endurance, successfully transporting the Soccer Aid for UNICEF match ball more than 260 miles from last year’s stadium, Stamford Bridge in London, to the home of this year’s match, Old Trafford in Manchester. 

Sam, who has been raising vital funds to support UNICEF’s work for children around the world, has pushed himself to the absolute limit, taking on five back-to-back endurance days, running and peddling over 260 miles, with each day more intense than the last and ending at football stadiums across the country. 

An exhausted Sam’s final morning began in the rain at 5am and as he travelled on foot and bike through Huyton, Warrington, Sale, Stretford and the Coronation Street cobbles before delivering the match ball to Old Trafford at 11.15am where he was met at the finish line by his sister Louise Thompson, brother-in-law Ryan Libbey, and nephew, Leo. 

Sam said: “My legs have completely gone but I feel good. I’m so grateful for everyone being here, I didn’t think anyone would turn up. To everyone who has donated, I’ve said it before but I’ll say it a million times, you are so heroic. The money will help so many children, I’m so grateful.” 

Supporters have shown out in force across the country to cheer Sam on, along with a host of famous faces, family and friends showing their support including Orlando Bloom, Olivia Colman, Robbie Williams, Joel Dommett, Alex Brooker, Pete Wicks, Dame Sarah Storey, Ben Shepherd, Chris Hughes, Josh ‘JP’ Patterson, Tony Bellew, JLS, Greg Rutherford, Will Best, and his sister and brother-in-law Louise Thompson and Ryan Libbey. Sam also received a boost from Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, this morning who sent him a message on Hits Radio praising his ‘fantastic effort’. 

The money raised from Sam’s challenge will support UNICEF’s work for children around the world to grow up safe, healthy and able to play and this year every donation will be tripled, thanks to Children’s Investment Fund foundation matching donations up to £5 million and an anonymous donor matching up to £500,000. 

Supporters have been following Sam’s journey live on ITV’s This Morning and Hits Radio each day as he shared his determination and battles on the road to get to the finish line ahead of this year’s Soccer Aid for UNICEF match kick-off on Sunday 15th June. 

The mammoth mission has also been captured for a one-off special documentary on ITV1: Sam Thompson’s Match Ball Mission, airing in the lead up to Soccer Aid for UNICEF, produced by Initial TV (a Banijay UK company). 

There’s still time to donate, visit socceraid.org.uk/challenge – the final total will be revealed at this year’s Soccer Aid for UNICEF match, broadcast on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player on Sunday 15th June. 

ENDS 

For more information or interview requests, please contact: m[email protected] or call + 44 (0)207 375 6030 

Notes to Editors 

Sam Thompson’s Match Ball Mission for Soccer Aid – Challenge route: 

Day 1: Stamford Bridge to Stadium MK 

Day 2: Stadium MK to Villa Park 

Day 3: Villa Park to Vale Park  

Day 4: Vale Park to Goodison Park  

Day 5: Goodison Park to Old Trafford 

Supporting Sam on the road during his challenge is partner Suzuki, who will be providing vehicles to transport equipment and Sam’s support teams.  

Sam will also be returning to play in this year’s Soccer Aid for UNICEF match, which will be broadcast on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player on Sunday 15th June.  

Extra information: 

Sam has been inspired to go the distance and raise as much money for children as he can, following his recent trip to Guatemala to see UNICEF’s work and the vital difference funds raised can make helping children grow up safe, healthy and able to play.   

Sam visited the Juego Limpio ‘Fair Play’ football programme in Sololá, Guatemala where UNICEF-trained volunteers work with children aged five to 16, many of whom live in poverty and have little access to quality sports facilities, providing them with a safe space to play and using the power of sport to promote values ​​such as respect, equality, and teamwork. 

Soccer Aid for UNICEF 

  • Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2025 will take place on Sunday 15th June at Old Trafford, Manchester and will be shown live exclusively on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player 
  • Since 2006, Soccer Aid for UNICEF has raised over £106 million, all supporting UNICEF’s vital work around the world working with families, communities and partners so that children can grow up safe, healthy and able to play. 
  • Right now, children around the world are facing devastating crises – from global aid cuts, war and climate change to hunger and disease – threatening their childhoods and their right to play. 
  • The money raised from this year’s campaign could help UNICEF provide life-changing support for a child, like clean water and nutrition, vital vaccinations, or the opportunity to learn, so every child can get the best start in life. 
  • Donations are open for Sam Thompson’s Match Ball Mission – for more information and to donate, visit socceraid.org.uk/challenge 
  • Soccer Aid for UNICEF does not endorse any company, brand, product or service. 

SOCCER AID FOR UNICEF PARTNERS 

Soccer Aid Productions Limited 

The multi-stakeholder project of Soccer Aid for UNICEF is run by Soccer Aid Productions, a collaboration between UNICEF UK and Triple S Events which is part of the Triple S Sports & Entertainment Group. 

UNICEF UK 

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, UNICEF work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. The UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) raises funds for UNICEF’s emergency and development work for children. It also promotes and protect children’s rights in the UK and internationally. It is a UK charity, entirely funded by supporters. 

ITV Social Purpose 

ITV’s Social Purpose is about using the power of ITV to shape culture for good, through using creativity and scale to inspire positive change in the world, and to nurture a responsible and inclusive working environment. ITV’s social purpose encompasses four priorities – better health, diversity and inclusion, climate action and giving back, all with their own measurable goals. For more information go to itvplc.com/socialpurpose 

Initial 

Initial, part of Banijay UK, has been the producer of all 13 Soccer Aid shows since its inception in 2006. Experienced in making premium entertainment and ambitious reality programmes, credits include hit shows such as Celebrity Big Brother (ITV), Big Brother (ITV), Last One Laughing (Prime Video), 99 To Beat(ITV), Total Wipeout and Tenable. 

Triple S Sports & Entertainment Group 

The Triple S Sports & Entertainment Group is a full-service sports and entertainment group operating in multiple industry sectors and countries. As a long-standing and expert agency with highly experienced personnel, it offers a range of services, including: talent management, event management, commercial rights exploitation, financial & legal advice, PR consultancy, social media & digital production, contract, transfer & negotiation management and crisis management services. The Group represents some of the highest-profile sporting professionals in the UK, as well as renowned personalities in the entertainment industry. Triple S has also been responsible for some of the biggest sports entertainment TV events in the UK. 

About Children’s Investment Fund Foundation  

The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) is an independent philanthropic organisation that partners with governments, communities and institutions to create systemic, locally owned change and, in turn, a world where all children can flourish.  CIFF has over $3 billion actively invested in projects and people who are accelerating solutions to the world’s interlinking problems, focusing on: tackling climate change, improving health and nutrition, and promoting equity and choice for women and girls.  For more information, please visit www.ciff.org