A CHARITY football match is set to take place this weekend to help a Stourbridge schoolgirl battling a brain tumour.

The event will take place on Sunday November 24 and will raise money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital and 11-year-old Ridgewood High School pupil Grace Holdnall, who is undergoing chemotherapy treatment for neuroblastoma.

Football-mad Grace, who plays for Withymoor Colts Girls under 12s, is a huge Liverpool fan so friends and family decided a charity football match would be an ideal way to raise funds for the hospital and Grace, who was keen to start fundraising after her first stay at the children's hospital.

A team from Withymoor comprising coaches and parents from Grace’s team will play against Grace’s Aces, made up of friends and family of Grace, who was diagnosed just three days after starting at high school.

Lye Town FC had agreed to host the fundraiser but due to the recent bad weather the match will now take place at Stourbridge Rugby Football Club, at Stourton Park. Gates open at 2.30pm, with kick off at 3.30pm and admission £5 for adults and £1 for under 16s.

Refreshments will be available along with raffle tickets with prizes up for grabs including a 43-inch smart TV and Manchester City versus Villa tickets, signed Villa memorabilia and £100 food vouchers.

Grace’s godfather Matt Webb, who is set to play in Grace’s Aces team, said: “Grace is an absolutely amazing girl with how she is dealing with the last few weeks and being so brave.

“There is a lot of support for Grace and her family. We all want to help raise as much as possible.”

Grace’s dad Dave Holdnall said he’s hoping Grace will be able to attend Sunday’s football match and he praised his daughter’s strength as she undergoes what will be an 18-month treatment journey.

He said: “She’s doing really well. She’s just a bit gutted to be missing out on normal day to day things.”

Online donation pages have been set up to support the fundraising for Grace, from Wollaston, and the hospital.

Anyone wishing to donate can go to the JustGiving website and search Grace Holdnall and/or Stephanie Powell, who has set up one of the fundraisers.