September 19, 2013: Football fans from the Free Kicks Foundation were invited to be the match ball sponsors at the The Doncaster Rovers Reserves charity match against Scunthorpe United Reserves at Keepmoat Stadium. The match was organized to raise funds for BlueBell Wood Hospice in South Yorkshire. Often, the severely ill children granted special football wishes through the Free Kicks Foundation are those that use BlueBell Wood facilities. The special fans also got to spend some time with Louis Tomlinson who’d recently signed to the Doncaster Rovers Reserves and, although still injured from a recent charity match and unable to play, was at the match that day for support.

Courtney, Tom, Holly, Jack, and Jess all got to meet Louis getting photos and autographs before the event (photo credit freekicksfoundation )

The Free Kicks Foundation is a charity created in 2007 and run by Steve Thorpe and Sam Downing with the purpose of giving seriously ill children the opportunity to go to a match of their favorite football team with their families.  Often at the match these children serve as team mascots for the day.  The “mascots” get to tour the grounds with a kick about on the pitch, visit the players in the dressing room, get a new kit of their own, and get to lead the players out onto the field for kick off. The foundation is supported by donations and through special events held each year, such as their 5 a side tournaments, cricket and golf days, sponsored walks and driving events. To date, the Free Kicks Foundation has served over 650 children and young adults to an event with their favorite football team. Here are a few more Free Kicks memories shared from their website:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

For more information about the Free Kicks Foundation and how you can help get involved visit Free Kicks Foundation website.

Waking up to Viktor was amazing. At this point Kev was awake and getting ready to go to Neuschwanstein Castle, I remember him looking over onto the top bunk that V and I were on, coming over and giving me a high five. Quickly followed by the two other Aussie guys in the room. Lucky V wasn't awake just yet. 

By time he did wake up, everyone else had left the dorm. And yes, we did finally get to be with each other, which was actually amazing. We stayed together in my bed until about 3:30, until V checked his phone and had about 18 missed calls from his friend, they had to go view the apartment they applied for. He quickly got changed, kissed me goodbye and left.

As soon as he left I jumped in the shower then found a supermarket and got some cheap lollies and pastries. Yummy. I also found some chocolate milk, it was delicious. I headed back to the hostel to begin my feast and only had a little bit before going to sleep again. 

When I woke up, Kev still wasn't back from the castle, so I went to the bar to get a beer, and ran into V. We sat in the corner of the bar, on a more comfortable couch than the night before, and talked for ages. I also finally managed to drink a Stein! (1litre of beer) go me! soon afterwards, V was going to bed, he looked absolutely exhausted. I walked with him to his room, and we stood outside there for a while, just talking some more. Neither of us wanted to be the one to leave first but he looked like he was about to fall asleep standing up, so I told him to go. 

Querido amigo,

hoje eu cheguei na escola alguns minutos depois que o sinal tinha batido, porque meu irmão levantou pra me levar na escola, então tive que chamar meu pai, o que demorou mais tempo. Na primeira aula eu fiquei estudando pra inglês, depois estudei matemática que ia ter prova na terceira aula, junto com a Adriana, Ana Caroline e Marcelle. Na segunda aula fiz a atividade. Na terceira até a maior parte da quarta fiz a prova. E depois copiei a atividade. No intervalo fiquei conversando com a Nami. Na quinta e última aula fiz a atividade ouvindo música e depois fiquei jogando. Quando saí da sala, a Nami estava saindo da dela e fomos conversando até o portão. Em seguida fui para o Tony. Cheguei em casa as uma e fiquei no computador. Depois almocei. E depois de um tempo dormi. Acordei quatro e pouco, e fiquei no computador. Fui pro inglês as seis e meia, e quando cheguei fiquei lá na recepção conversando. O Matheus não foi hoje, de novo. Eu voltei pra casa as nove porque peguei carona com uma mulher da recepção. Assim fiquei no computador, jantei, tomei banho. Eu adoro tomar banho depois das onze. E voltei pro computador. E estou aqui ainda. Mas agora vou me deitar.