Paul Scholes in charity game to raise funds for paralysed footballer Ellis Robinson

Paul Scholes in charity football game to raise funds for Ellis Robinson

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Paralysed young footballer Ellis Robinson, whose freak accident means he may never walk again, has spoken of his delight after an exceptional all-star charity event raised funds towards his recovery.

Former Manchester United and England star Paul Scholes was just one of the stars who came to support Ellis, 17, at a fundraising football match.

A team of Oldham Athletic legends, including Andy Ritchie, David Eyres and current manager John Sheridan took on an All Stars XI, including Scholes, Ray Wilkins, Frank Sinclair and a whole host of former Premier League players, at Oldham Athlectics' ground last night (Tuesday 11 May) – and after the game Scholes even donated his football boots to Ellis.

Ellis, who once dreamed of becoming a famous football player, was dealt a devastating blow in February this year after a freak accident left him paralysed from the shoulders down - leaving his family worried that he might not walk again.

Ellis was crushed under a fellow player during a five-a-side game at Hathershaw College in Oldham, where he lost all feeling below his chest. Medics now say that the young footballer may never walk again, but has been undergoing extensive treatment to get the young footballer back on his feet.

The funds being raised for Ellis are going towards special treatment.

Latics was full of supporters last night, including champion boxer Anthony Colla, former professional footballers Paul Dickov, Frankie Bunn, Trevor Sinclair, Colin Hendry, and James Beattie.

In an interview with Rochdale Online News, mum Lisa Robinson said: “Ellis has obviously been through a lot, we all have, but the support he gets is overwhelming. Just look around now and you can the sheer amount of people here for him, at the end of the day it is that support which makes him stronger.

“Ellis is very positive, he has always been that way. He has shown a lot of strength and we are just all hoping for his recovery.”

Ellis recently had a small setback with an infection but is undergoing bedside physiotherapy to get him strong enough to eventually go to a gym.

His uncle, Anees Mirza, is amazed with Ellis' improvement and the support. He said: “Since the day it happened, all we have had from him is progress after progress every day. Hopefully, with everybody’s support, he will stay strong. He will make it through.

“There’s a lot of support from the football family.

“Ellis is the one who has been the strongest in this situation. He’s not shown once that he’s upset or down. And even people who don’t know him, reading the story have shown so much support. It’s beautiful.”

A former Rochdale AFC academy player, Ellis studies at Oldham College and narrowly missed acceptance in a trial for the England Colleges team at the end of last year.

A spokesperson from Rochdale AFC said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with Ellis and his family at this time, and we are offering our full support.”

The Club is supporting ‘We’re Running for Robinson’, a sprint event organised by students at Hopwood Hall College, taking place at Spotland on Saturday 21 May.

If you would like to take part, for more information see:

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/4/sport-news/102894/running-for-ellis-robinson

To donate to Ellis visit:

http://teamellis.co.uk

After the game: Paul Scholes donates his boots to Ellis Robinson - also pictured are radio DJ Mike Sweeney and Ellis' mum, Lisa