Hockey match raises funds for meningitis charity in memory of Eddie Rosen

A fundraising hockey match was held at Arsenal community hub on Saturday in memory of children’s writer Michael Rosen’s son Eddie.

Eddie Rosen, who worked in theatre, sadly died when he was 18 years old in 1999 from meningococcal septicaemia.

Eddie had been a keen hockey player and from a young age played for an elite team called the Gunners from the Islington area of London, who were formed through an Arsenal Football Club community based project, Arsenal in the Community. The Gunners were part of the premier hockey club, Old Loughtonians.

Former member of the Gunners, 38 year old Ben Whibley said, “Over the years that we played together we became really close friends and our whole team was devastated when Eddie died so suddenly. Every year since then we have organised a hockey match to raise funds for the charity Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF) in his memory. Saturday was the 19th annual event and involved a three team tournament. It’s amazing how everyone comes back together each year to remember Eddie in this way. Some of the guys still play national league hockey, some just play for fun these days and some don’t play at all. So we were mixed level but it was a good laugh as always and we raised funds for an important cause.”

As per tradition, Michael Rosen, author of the popular children’s book, We're Going on a Bear Hunt, attended the game with his family and presented a cup to the winning team.

Rob Dawson, Head of Support at MRF said, “We’re very grateful to Ben and his fellow sportsmen for organising this annual hockey match in memory of Eddie and we appreciate Michael’s continued support and help in raising awareness of meningitis. The funds they have all worked hard to raise will be used to support MRF’s lifesaving research into the prevention, detection and early treatment of meningitis. It will also allow us to continue supporting families affected by this devastating disease.”