Singer sets up match for charity which helped son

Singer Sam Bailey is set to play in a celebrity charity football match for a cause close to her heart.

Her 16-year-old son Tommy was diagnosed with epilepsy in May 2024 and suffers from tonic-clonic seizures, which cause him to lose consciousness and have violent muscle contractions.

The X-Factor winner will play at a match in Leicestershire alongside a string of celebrities including former Leicester City football players, soap actors and reality TV stars to raise funds for Young Epilepsy.

Bailey is an ambassador for the charity and said it had supported her family with counselling and support after Tommy's diagnosis.

"They are brilliant and were absolutely great," she said.

"Tommy didn't have counselling because he would have a seizure, wake up and wouldn't know what happened.

"But for my youngest, who saw him, she did. She couldn't be in the same room and Young Epilepsy really helped us with that.

"The charity is all about helping people that are going through what we've been going through.

"I really wanted to give something back and do something in my hometown."

The 48-year-old has been regularly playing in celebrity charity football matches, organised by Sellebrity Soccer, across the country.

"I asked if I could do one for me because my son Tommy was diagnosed with epilepsy last year," she said. "He had been having seizures since 2023."

Bailey said she hoped as well as raising funds, the match would raise awareness of how people can help someone who has an epileptic seizure.

"Tommy has started college, so he's on his own like going on buses," she said.

"He has a talisman on his wrist, so if he has a seizure on the bus someone will know what to do and who to call.

"For any parent that's got somebody in their family that has epilepsy, to the outside world it looks like you're mothering them but you have too.

"You don't want them to get too excited or too anxious. You want them to eat and make sure they sleep. Stress is one of the big factors of epilepsy.

"I feel like everybody in his class should know what to do as part of welcome to the college.

"Tommy's illness is life threatening. So if he has a seizure, the difference of knowing what to do and not could save his life."

Bailey was a prison officer at HMP Gartree, in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, before she won The X Factor in 2013.

She will be playing at the Anstey Nomads ground on Sunday with other celebrities including former Leicester City goalkeeper Conrad Logan, TV personality Calum Best and Eastenders actor Jake Wood.

"The club is quite special to me because my youngest plays for the team," she said.

"I'm in Leicester playing football. I say playing, but I'm actually a token girl.

"I'll point and kick the ball and then I won't get the ball probably for the rest of the game, but it's fun."

The ticketed match is set to kick-off at 15:00 BST at Anstey Nomads Football Club, in Cropston Road, on 21 September.