5 Aug 2025 Community

Festival Unity: How Golcar United’s Party on the Pitch Raised £1,558 for The Kirkwood

Golcar United Football Club’s flagship event, Party on the Pitch, returned to Skye Direct Stadium on 9th and 10th May 2025, and this year’s festival brought in an incredible £1,558 for The Kirkwood. The club donated £1 to our charity from every ticket sold. 

he two day music extravaganza featured a stellar line‑up of UK tribute acts, including Blur2, Pulp’d, The Gerry Cinnamon Experience, On the Shoulders of Giants, Kyla Porter Almost P!nk, Guns N Yorkshire Roses, and RT90’s. Gates opened in the late afternoon and drew enthusiastic crowds to enjoy live music, food, drinks, and a vibrant local atmosphere.

Since its inception, Party on the Pitch has grown rapidly. As club secretary Ben Senior explained, the event has evolved from modest gigs into a major local music festival: “Party on the Pitch is in its fourth year now and is growing year on year. We try our best to keep costs down and keep bar prices cheap to ensure it remains a family friendly event.”

This year, the club decided to give back to the community in a new way, a share of ticket sales was pledged to The Kirkwood after the club learned about funding cuts impacting the hospice’s care services across Huddersfield and Kirklees. In a heartfelt statement, Ben Senior underscored the emotional and community value of the day: “We’re absolutely delighted that our Party On The Pitch event earlier this year raised over £1,500 for The Kirkwood. They do such vital work for people across Kirklees, and it means a lot to us as a club to be able to support them. It was fantastic to see the local community come together for both Golcar United and The Kirkwood, and we’re so grateful to everyone who attended, volunteered, and made the day such a huge success.”

Judith Ambler, Community Fundraiser at The Kirkwood, added: “Events like Party on the Pitch show just how powerful community spirit can be. We’re so grateful to Golcar United for choosing to support The Kirkwood this year. Every pound raised will help us provide vital care and support to people living with life limiting illnesses and their families across Kirklees. It’s inspiring to see a football club and its supporters rally behind their local hospice in such a meaningful way.”

Thanks to the generosity of every ticket holder, volunteer, local vendor, and performer, the event surpassed all expectations raising the total to £1,558 for The Kirkwood. The money will support essential community palliative care, counselling, In‑Patient services, and the Support Life programme.

Party on the Pitch 2025 not only showcased local pride and entertainment but proved powerful as a force for community fundraising. As the event grows, so does its potential to make a meaningful impact in Huddersfield and beyond.