This seasons charity is Alzheimers as nominated by NEU.  The official charity day is Saturday 29th January 2005 with the main collection point at Sprucefield Shopping Complex though many other collection points and events will take place.  Each season referees donate their match fees on charity day and many football clubs also contribute. 

The chosen charity for last season was The Ileostomy & Internal Pouch Support Group.  The main collection point was Sprucefield Shopping Complex.  Other collection points were  also organized.

A total of £5350 was raised and the cheque was handed over at the National Course in May

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Pictured is Chairman John Ferry presenting the cheque.  Pictured behind is Sydney Spence (Nominator of Charity) and David McIlwaine (Charity representative).

ia, the Ileostomy and Internal Pouch Support Group (formerly known as the Ileostomy Association of Great Britain and Ireland) is a mutual support group which has the primary aim of helping people who have had their colon removed.

 It was started in 1956 by a group of people who had ileostomies and some members of the medical profession. It was the first ostomy association in the United Kingdom and is a registered national charity (no. 234472).

 Certain inflammatory bowel diseases, e.g. ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, sometimes cause such damage to the patient's large intestine (colon) that it is necessary for the surgeon to remove it entirely.

With a Brooke ileostomy, the lower end of the small intestine (ileum) is brought out through the abdominal wall and the body's waste matter is collected in an externally attached bag.

Alternatively, the patient who has ulcerative colitis may be able to choose to have an internal pouch, which involves the construction of a reservoir from a section of ileum. Someone who has a pouch does not need an external bag. People who have Crohn's disease cannot usually have an internal pouch.

It is estimated that there are more than 20,000 people in Great Britain and Ireland who have had their colon removed. This means that you will almost certainly have met someone who has an ileostomy or internal pouch, as they lead perfectly normal lives.

This was the twelfth year of charity collections organised by local referees and brought the total raised during this time to over £50,000.

Chairman John Ferry paid tribute to the members who had assisted with the collections, to all those within football, and the generosity of the N. Ireland public whose contributions added to those of the referees.