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One Direction

1D's Louis Tomlinson signs as non-contract player for Doncaster Rovers in aid of local children's hospice

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By Gillian West, Social media manager

August 1, 2013 | 2 min read

One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson has signed with Doncaster Rovers as a non-contract player in aid of Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice in Sheffield.

The Doncaster-born singer has been given the squad number 28 for the 2013-14 season and is likely to appear for the team’s reserves, despite remaining with the chart-topping band.

In a statement on the club’s website, Tomlinson said: “This has always been a childhood dream for me. I feel very honoured to have been asked to sign for Rovers and being able to help both the club and the amazing charity Bluebell Wood is what it's all about.”

The 21-year-old has previously played for the club in a charity match in aid of the same children’s charity.

A club spokesman revealed the Rovers had high hopes that Tomlinson would appear on the pitch “at some point this season” in aid of the charity.

Chief executive of the Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, Claire Rintoul, commented: “Being a local lad it's great to see him giving back to the community and supporting our children with a shortened life expectancy. He's visited us now on more than one occasion and met some of our children and their families who are all so excited that he is championing our cause…it means so much to us and our children and families that he's giving his time to help us raise money and awareness.”

Media manager at Doncaster Rovers Steve Uttley added: "Louis and I organised last season’s charity game, in aid Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, which was a big success with over 9,000 fans attending. It was natural to follow on from that and Louis wanted more involvement to raise the profile of his home town club and Bluebell Wood. What started out as light hearted banter on text has moved on to reality, which is a great coup for the club. Our next step is to get Louis on the pitch again in a Rovers kit."

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