On Monday (October 27), Cliftonville will play Linfield in a match that will be shown live on Sky Sports One.

Although they are rivals on the field, the clubs and their supporters are uniting to help raise money for Northern Ireland’s leading local cancer charity, Action Cancer, on the night of the match.

Both sets of fans will be out in force collecting for the charity, from the crowds making their way to Solitude for the game.

The clubs and fans are hoping that a show of unity will help combat the negative image that local football here has suffered from in the past.

Cliftonville manager Eddie Patterson said: “Cancer is non-sectarian and we want local football to be too. There are good people involved with the game here and this initiative shows that. I can think of no better a cause than Action Cancer.”

This is the first charity event in a season-long initiative by Cliftonville FC. The club intends to nominate charities for some of their more high profile games this season with regular collections taking place before games.