Details announced for third annual 'Les Mis v Phantom' charity football match

There may be a World Cup imminent, but details of a far more important football event have just been revealed.

The third annual Les Mis v Phantom charity football match – titled 'The Hat-Trick' – will take place at Bromley FC on 3 August, featuring cast members from both shows alongside former international footballers.

The event was founded in 2012 by Les Miserables resident director Chris Key, in honour of the show's long-serving head of wigs Melanie Oakley-Dow, who subsequently lost her battle with cancer.

"She is extremely missed by her family and all who knew her and Les Miserables is not the same without her," said Key. "We will be playing this year's match in her memory, hence my goal in making it the best one yet."

The inaugural match raised over £12,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support, and last year £24,000 was raised for Great Ormond Street Hospital in honour of Les Mis carpenter Alex Bremer's daughter Lizzie, who was suffering from Neuroblastoma and died just before the game.

This year's adopted charities are Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) and The Lewis Marsh Foundation.

The Les Miserables team will be managed by Reading FC's Nigel Adkins, and the Phantom of the Opera team by Stoke assistant manager Mark Bowen.

As well as cast members the game will also feature Danny Mac (Hollyoaks), Ricky Rayment (TOWIE) and former professional footballers Robbie Savage, Francis Benali, Paul Jones and Paul Walsh.

There will also be performances from Geronimo Rauch, currently playing the Phantom, and WhatsOnStage Award winner Carrie Hope-Fletcher, currently appearing as Eponine in Les Miserables.

More information and a link to buy tickets can be found at lesmisvphantom.co.uk, and donations can be made at justgiving.com.