A special football match being held in Newtown this weekend to raise awareness of recovery from substance addiction has got the backing of Hollywood star Michael Sheen.

The match between Kaleidoscope and fellow charity Adferiad will take place at 3pm at Latham Park on Saturday, September 9 and is raising awareness for recovery month which works to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices for people with addiction issues.

The match is the latest idea of Tony Ormond, who is regional recovery manager for Kaleidescope in North Wales.

“I think I am one of the only service users that has actually been on the books,” said Tony. “So, I have a real inside view and perspective of what it is like to use our services.

"Obviously now I have moved on and had various roles but I am now the service manager and we deal with criminal justice and substance misuse.”

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Tony has been described by his colleagues as Kaleidescope’s “Jurgen Klopp or Bob Paisely” and has organised the event which has got the backing of the Police and Crime Commissioner, former Premier League players and Welsh star Michael Sheen.

“Initially it was just staff and volunteers but it now includes significant others and service users for Kaleidoscope – I’ve got about five service users that are coming in there,” said Tony.

“There is a lot of evidence that activity is really good for people’s rehabilitation. It’s going to be a free event with food and free water with educational aspects.”

The event is going to be on a grand scale with Tony getting help from Newtown Football Club. 

He has also got help from Eternal Community Media who will be livestreaming the event using cameras that were used at the World Cup in Qatar.

The trophy – the Naloxone Cup (named after the drug which saves people from overdoses) – will be presented by the former Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland.

County Times: Former Liverpool keeper Chris Kirkland will be presenting the trophy Former Liverpool keeper Chris Kirkland will be presenting the trophy (Image: Peter Byrne, PA Archive)

Aferiad got the backing on social media from Michael Sheen who is a patron for the charity and said: “Adferiad All Stars, all of you are stars, everyone of you a star – come on Aferiad.”

For added authority on the pitch, Andy Dunbobbin, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales will be refereeing the game.

“I am delighted to be refereeing the charity football match between Adferiad and Kaleidoscope, two organisations that do outstanding work in supporting vulnerable people through recovery to get back in the game,” said Mr Dunbobbin.

“Sport is an excellent way of promoting a positive attitude among service users, enabling them to join with friends to get active and forge a healthy mind in a healthy body.

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“I am grateful for all of the support this match has received both on and off the pitch from the community as well as a wealth of high-profile supporters, and I look forward to seeing this success continue for Adferiad and Kaleidoscope into the future.”

Tony added that the event is all about raising awareness for recovery month and giving people hope.

“The match is for recovery month, it's where people stand up and be counted,” said Tony. “It’s where we say here’s where I was in my life and look at where I am now. It makes things that little easier for those who feeling hopeless to say ‘if my old dealer can do that, if that guy I wrote off, if he can live like that with integrity – maybe I can’.

“In September we all come out of the shadows to celebrate the prospect of recovery. Addiction doesn’t discriminate against class, race or gender it can affect anyone and what we say is neither does recovery.”