EPIC Man of the Match Award to fund good causes for a fourth season at PNE
Funding equipment used to research causes of cancer, enabling research into childhood brain tumours, and providing special days out for children with complex medical needs… just some of the impact that the EPIC Global Solutions Man of the Match Award at Preston North End FC had last season, and hopes to achieve again as it returns for a fourth campaign in 2025/26.
In a popular Deepdale innovation, the award winners help to support causes close to their heart when they are selected as PNE’s star man in every home competitive fixture, with EPIC – who work in partnership with gambling operators, sports, education and other at-risk sectors to reduce gambling-related harm – donating £500 to their chosen charity.
Certain regular award winners have helped to generate significant funds for their cause, as Ali McCann’s five wins in 2024/25 generated £2,500 for Tippy Toes Baby Bank in Lostock Hall, with a further £500 heading the same way thanks to one-time winner Andrew Hughes backing the same charity.
Among the examples of great initiatives that were made possible by last season’s donations to 15 different charities were:
- A whole year of RNA sequencing on childhood brain tumours, enabling researchers supported by The Brain Tumour Charity to investigate what causes them;
- Days out to venues such as the circus, all-inclusive discos, bowling, farms, museums, and dining out for seriously ill children and young adults supported by Derian House Children’s Hospice in Chorley;
- Funding welfare grants, specialist advisers and health and social care professionals to back those needing the help of the Huntington’s Disease Association;
- Enabling Cancer Research UK to purchase a gel electrophoresis machine, measuring the length of DNA strands as part of the fight against cancer;
- Essential supplies for parents of newborn children in times of need via Lancashire’s Tippy Toes Baby Bank;
- Contributing to the £5.8m running costs for St Catherine’s Hospice in their 40th anniversary year.
“We’re a socially-minded and impact-driven organisation, and it has been a special privilege to help create a different kind of impact over the first three years of our Man of the Match concept at Deepdale,” explained Paul Buck, CEO of EPIC Global Solutions and a life-long Preston North End supporter.
“Our day-to-day activities, working with high-risk sectors to reduce gambling-related harm, take place on a global scale, so it’s rewarding that the causes we’ve been able to support in the past year have been spread across five different countries and one multi-national organisation, helping a fantastic range of causes that are close to both our company’s Lancashire roots and the North End players’ home towns.
“We hope that this season’s worthy award winners will continue to help shine a light on some wonderful organisations who change lives for the better.”
Providing the perspective of one of the grateful recipients of donations, Ellie Smith, community fundraiser for Derian House Children’s Hospice – a stone’s throw from North End’s Euxton training centre – commented:
“We cannot thank EPIC Global Solutions and Preston North End enough for their continued support to the hospice.
“We are proud to be Lancashire’s children’s hospice, helping children make happy memories and giving families care and support when they need it most, but it is only down to people like you that we can make this happen.”
Similar sentiment was received from Tracy Foster, Community and Events Fundraising Lead at St Catherine’s Hospice in Lostock Hall, who explained:
“As we celebrate our 40th anniversary this year, contributions like these are vital for us to continue providing our service and care within the community and at St Catherine’s.
“As a charitable organisation we need to raise around £5.8m in 2025, so every penny counts. We are constantly amazed and thankful for the ongoing support from our community.”
Providing the club’s perspective, Ben Rhodes, head of football operations, added:
“We’re thrilled to be continuing the EPIC Global Solutions Man of the Match Award during the 2025/26 season.
“It’s an incredible and potentially life-changing initiative which over the past few years has helped to make a real difference, not just locally but in some cases internationally. The players have really bought into the concept which has been brilliant and it’s been great to see the real impact the donations have made.
“I’d like to thank EPIC for their continued support and we look forward to working with them again this season.”
The first EPIC Global Solutions Man of the Match Award – which will be in place for all home league and cup games this season – will be presented following Saturday’s home opener against Leicester City. Guests in the Invincibles Lounge will continue to receive the opportunity to watch the award presentation after each game, along with the chance to meet the winner following their post-match interview wherever possible.
