Rockers & Rollers Play The Field For NXNE Queen & Beaver Cup

The Rockers vs The Rollers - musicians from such bands as Broken Social Scene, Flashing Lights and Bedouin Soundclash and media from such outlets as ET Canada, CBC and Report On Business - lace up their cleats, throw on their jerseys, and go on the attack again for the annual North By Northeast (NXNE) Put The Boot In charity soccer match in Toronto.

This year's event, again benefitting Right To Play, takes place Sunday, June 17 at Lamport Stadium (1151 King St. W.). A kids game for those 13 and under (register for free at kidssoccer@nxne.com) starts at 12:30 p.m., followed by the "adults" at 1:30. Doors are at noon.

"It's in its six year. It's the longest running Canadian fundraising event for Right To Play," NXNE co-founder Andy McLean tells Samaritanmag. "I'm very proud of that. We raised $15,000 last year. We're trying to raise $17,000 this year."

According to the mission statement on Right To Play's web site, the charity aims to improve the lives of children around the world by using the power of sport and play for development, health and peace.

Admission for Put The Boot In 2012, whose coveted prize is the Queen and Beaver Cup (in honour of sponsor The Queen and Beaver Public House pub), is pay-what-you-can and to commemorate Father's Day all kids get in for free. In addition, there will be an on-site raffle with prizes donated by various local businesses.

"It's a small but vital crowd that show up at Lamport," says McLean. "It continues to grow. We have some good representation from the media and also from the rockers, the music team. Soccer is growing in Canada. If this was the UK, we'd have a bit more interest. It's not quite the same as hockey, but we are really keen to keep it going and continuing to raise more money every year to go to Right To Play. That's what it's all about. We've got more sponsors onboard this year."

Sponsors include Umbro, SonicBids, The York Alliance, and the Queen and Beaver Public House.

This year's Rockers, defending their championship, will feature musicians and affiliates such as Brendan Canning of Broken Social Scene; Fucked Up's Mike Haliechuk; Tom Dolinar of King Roller; Bedouin Soundclash bassist Eon Sinclair; Matt Murphy of Flashing Lights; Most Serene Republic's Nick Greaves; Toronto musician Stephanie Bosch and Cool Planet's Todd Arkell.

This year's Rollers, coached by Olympian Adam Van Koeverden, include Derek DeCloet from Report on Business; Jason Hyranyk from Total Soccer Magazine; Robert Benson, from Bravo; Nicolas Jennings, music historian; Tom Harrington from CBC's Marketplace; Rick Campanelli, host of ET Canada; Scott Jardine from DirectKickTV; Brian Banks of MusicVice; and Dalton Higgins, journalist and hip hop expert.  Also in that lineup is McLean, NXNE's Mike Tanner,  and Put The Boot In board members Jane Tattersall, John Vidovich and Nigel Newton.