Friday 7th October 2011

Chesterfield FC Coach Mark Crossley (below) has titled his autobiography, 'Looking After Number One' but in fact, having spoken with him, the ethos behind the book sales is in fact the opposite.

A huge chunk of the proceeds from the sales are being donated to two worthy charities - Mencap and Grass Roots Football - and, at a charity book signing on Wednesday at the Co-operative Bank, Chesterfield, both Mark and a representative from one of those charities told The Chesterfield Post just why the deal hits the back of the net for both sides.

Kristina Stoby is Area Manager for the Co-operative, which has Mencap as it's Charity of The Year and she told us just why having the support of Mark was so important, "Today is about drumming up funding for our charity, Mencap and, for every book that the Co-op sel,l Mark will donate 10% to the charity.

"We've also been given a signed Chesterfield shirt that is being raffled and will be auctioned at our Charity dinner on 14th Nov - everyone has been very generous. Customers are seeing the posters, and other businesses are also telling their customers about this book signing today."

The bank is keen to raise as many funds as possible for the cause, "Every year the bank chooses a charity and Mencap was chosen this year as it's such a worthwhile charity which benefits the people it's involved with. It's something that fits in well with our ethics and values in the bank, the Co-op is interesting to people because of our charity work and what we stand for. We're known as the most sustainable bank on the High Street - the compelling alternative on the High Street."

Keeley is the Chesterfield branch Manager and she also stressed how important the connection is to the company, "It's a wonderful event and one which really ties in with the ethos of the bank and the things we believe in - charity and community. It's also a great talking point for our customers, that we're supporting charities, most other banks don't do it. It's been very good for us.

"And the Chesterfield FC connection is brilliant, there are lots of supporters in the area. We've had loads of interest up to now with loads of people coming in and buying books."

And Mark himself, how does he feel about the book now it's finished, and how has it been received? He says that he has a lot to be grateful for in life at the moment, "Both on and off pitch it's going really well. With football, we had a great result v Notts County, down to 10 men. A few players got in the team (last night) to give us competition for players, and every single one performed which gives the manager a headache for Saturday, but it's a good one to have.

"In terms of the book, I've been extremely busy. The book is going really well - it's taken me by surprise, and the charities have been really helpful.

"Mencap and Grassroots football are the charities I've chosen to benefit. I just felt that locally grassroots football is on it's backside and it was a big influence on my career.

"I bought a team I used to play for to the game on Saturday - 18 kids, we took them on a tour of ground, they had a walk round the pitch and I bought them all a ticket for the game. I've had so many emails and texts saying how much they enjoyed it, it gives me great satisfaction.

"With the book, everyone's a winner. If I can get a holiday out of it, then I'm happy. I haven't done it to make a lot of money; I've done it to get worthy charities involved and am proud of what I've achieved with it.

"I'm a laid back character and if you'd have asked me 10 years ago if I'd have done this I'd have said, who me? a big daft lad from Barnsley? I doubt it! It took me 8 months to write and I'm very proud of it. But people who've read the book like it - those who've read it that know me say that reading it is like sitting in a room with me."

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