Robbie Williams, Stoke’s favourite son, returns home to play his first ever show in the city’s Vale Park Stadium on Saturday, June 20, 2020.
The very special homecoming show will be in aid of the Donna Louise Hospice for Children and Young People, Unicef UK and The Hubb Foundation.
Early ticket access is available to UK fans who purchase (or have already purchased) Robbie’s new album ‘The Christmas Present’ from the official Robbie Williams store before 6pm GMT next Thursday, December, 5. Early access code and instructions will be emailed before 6pm GMT on Friday December, 6.
Robbie, who was given the Freedom of Stoke-on-Trent in 2014, said of his home city: “Stoke-on-Trent made me. My heart, my humour, it’s all from Stoke. Cut me and it’s through me like a stick of rock.”
He added: “It has always been an ambition of mine to play a show at Port Vale and I’m delighted that now it’s actually going to happen. This is like the best Christmas present of all for me! I want to continue to help raise money for charities in the Stoke community, and to help children grow up happy, healthy and able to play. This event will be able to do just that and I’m proud to be doing this in aid of The Donna Louise, Unicef and The Hubb Foundation.”
Robbie has been a patron of the Donna Louise Hospice for Children and Young People since 2002. The Donna Louise provides a lifeline to hundreds of families across Staffordshire and South East Cheshire who are facing every parent’s worst nightmare; the heart-breaking knowledge that they will almost certainly outlive their child. They provide specialist care and support services for children and young people with life-limiting conditions, due to illness or injury, from birth until they no longer need the support. Their services are provided free of charge and rely hugely on the kindness and generosity of the local community to make this possible.
Simon Fuller, CEO of The Donna Louise, commented: “We are so incredibly grateful to our Patron, Robbie Williams, for holding this concert in support of charities including The Donna Louise so that we can continue to be a lifeline for the families of children and young people with life-limiting conditions.”
In 2000 Robbie became a Unicef UK Ambassador and has continued to be a passionate supporter ever since. In addition, he co-founded the hugely successful Soccer Aid for Unicef event which has so far raised over £38 million to support Unicef’s vital work around the world saving lives and helping children grow up happy, healthy and able to play.
Nick Roseveare, Interim Executive Director at Unicef UK, said: “We are tremendously honoured that our UK Ambassador Robbie Williams has chosen Unicef UK to be one of the charities to benefit from his homecoming show in Stoke. We are extremely grateful for this and equally for Robbie’s long-standing commitment to supporting the life-saving work that Unicef does for children around the world.”
The Hubb Foundation is a charity based in Robbie’s home city of Stoke-on-Trent and launched by Carol Shanahan, owner of Port Vale FC and software company Synectics Solutions. During school holiday periods the Hubb Foundation – working in partnership with the Port Vale Foundation Trust – organises supervised, fun indoor and outdoor activities for thousands of children across Stoke-on-Trent, as well as providing vital free meals.
Hubb Foundation Trustee Martin Tideswell, Editor of The Sentinel newspaper and Stoke on Trent Live, said: “Staging organised activities during school holiday periods makes a huge difference to children here in the Potteries by enabling them to create happy childhood memories, allowing them to socialise and enjoy nutritional meals in a safe environment. Robbie is, at heart, a lad from Stoke-on-Trent who is now, once again, giving back to children and young people here in his home city and we couldn’t be more grateful and proud of him.”
Port Vale Football Club was formed in 1876. The club was bought in May this year by fans of Port Vale, Carol and Kevin Shanahan, who also own local IT company, Synectics Solutions, which provides global data solutions.
Carol Shanahan, co-owner of Port Vale FC, said today: “When we took over at Port Vale just over six months ago, our aim was to create a place and atmosphere that would bring people to the football club and be a shining light in the heart of the community. To be asked to host such a magnificent event instils us with enormous pride and together, working with the Stoke-on-Trent community, we are delighted to welcome Robbie back home, to Port Vale Football Club.”
