TWO soap stars were unable to take part in a charity football match yesterday after they were involved in a road accident on their way to Suffolk.
Elliot Furniss
TWO soap stars were unable to take part in a charity football match yesterday after they were involved in a road accident on their way to Suffolk.
Former Emmerdale heartthrob Ayden Callaghan and ex-Hollyoaks actor Jake Hendriks, both 27, were travelling to the fundraising event in Needham Market when their car was hit from behind.
They were due to turn out for a Showbiz XI and take on a team led by ex-Ipswich Town midfielder Kevin Horlock at Needham Market FC's Bloomfields ground.
Jake, who played gay Catholic priest Father Kieron Hobbs in Hollyoaks between 2006 and 2008, and Ayden, who portrayed Miles De Souza in Emmerdale until last August, have both previously played for celebrity football teams.
Chris Ryan, who helps organise the Showbiz XI side for matches around the country, said the pair were both left shaken by the crash but were uninjured and are now recovering at home.
He said: “I got a text from Ayden on Sunday morning saying he had been involved in an accident, had been hit from behind and had to go to hospital for a check-up.
“They're both well but have got sore heads and are a little bit shaken up. Unfortunately, they couldn't make the game. It's a shame.”
Needham Market, who play in the Ridgeons League Premier Division, hosted the event in order to raise cash for Cancer Research.
Club chairman David Bugg said the day had still proved a big success with between 300 and 400 people attending and he wished the two actors well.
He said: “We had a decent crowd and it was nice afternoon - it all went really well and we're very pleased.
“We raised �550 for Cancer Research and it was actually a good game of football. We hope to put one on next year as well and we hope to make it bigger and better.”
Ipswich Town legend Matt Holland was the guest of honour on the day and watched the team led by Needham Market player-assistant manager Horlock grab a last-minute equaliser after former EastEnders actor Phil Daniels had scored to make it 2-1 to the showbiz side.
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