‘Manchester meant everything to my dad’
Campbell Hatton, pictured with Ricky Hatton in October 2024, is to captain a team at a football match held in memory of his dad(Image: Getty Images)
Ricky Hatton is to be celebrated on the pitch with a star-studded football match in Greater Manchester later this year.
The boxing legend, from Stockport, passed away at the age of 46 in September last year. On what would have been his 47th birthday, on Tuesday (October 6), details of the celebrity Game4Ricky event were unveiled.
Being held at the Joie Stadium, at the Etihad Campus, on Sunday, November 15th, the event will feature football legends including Champions League and World Cup winners, as well as sporting figures and global names.
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Tickets for the event – which are priced from £15 each – have now gone on sale, which aims to raise vital funds for mental health and suicide prevention charities. City in the Community, a charity set up by Manchester City, will be the recipient of all donations and will distribute funds to worthy causes.
The celebration, which is being produced by LGNDS, will also be shown on TV live on 5 in the UK and will also be shown across the world so that fans can catch every moment of the game which will see squads Team Hitman and Team Hatton go up against one another.
Campbell Hatton, who will serve as captain of Team Hatton, commented: “Manchester meant everything to my dad. Wherever he travelled in the world, he was always incredibly proud of where he came from and of the people of this city.
“What makes Game4Ricky so special is that it gives Manchester the chance to come together and celebrate him – not just as a world champion, but as a dad, a mate and somebody who genuinely loved this city and its people.
“Mental health is a battle nobody should have to fight alone. To see so many incredible names from sport and entertainment coming together in his honour, while raising money to help other people in his name, would have made my dad incredibly proud. I know he’ll be looking down on us.
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City in the Community Chief Executive Mike Geary added: “Ricky was one of our own. A lifelong Blue who carried his love for Manchester City with him onto some of the biggest stages in world sport, while always remaining incredibly connected to the people and communities of Manchester.
“It therefore feels particularly meaningful that funds raised through Game4Ricky will create a positive legacy in his name. We’re incredibly proud to be part of Game4Ricky. Every pound raised will help make a tangible difference to people’s lives – a fitting legacy for someone who meant so much to this city.”
The November football match follows on from a previous Evening4Ricky music, comedy and boxing celebration, which was held at the AO Arena back in June and featured Bugzy Malone, Tinie Tempah, Freddie Flintoff, Rowetta and Jason Manford.
A number of hospitality tickets will also be available for the November 15 match, starting at £200pp. All tickets are available via the Manchester City website now.
