Press Release dated 18th January 2011.
ASHLEY WAKELIN MEMORIAL CHARITY FOOTBALL MATCH
16TH JANUARY 2011 @ EASTWOOD TOWN FC
A Memorial Charity Football Match was played on 16th January 2011 at Coronation Park, the home of Eastwood Town Football Club in memory of Ashley Wakelin who died tragically, aged 21, in a car accident at Plumtree on 12th October 2010. Over 450 people attended.
The football match featured three teams; one made up of Ashley’s friends called ‘Wakelin’s Raver Babies’, one from Bilborough United FC (the team Ashley played for) and a ‘Legends’ side which featured former Nottingham Forest favourites; Gary Charles, Brynn Gunn, Nigel Jemson, Darren Heyes and Laurie Duffield. They were joined by Eastwood Town legends; Paul Gould, Richard Smith, Gary Breach and Kelvin Mushambi, Alfreton Town’s Laurie Wilson, Retford United’s Lee Whittington and Heanor Town’s Mark Frost . At the start of the match a minute’s applause filled the air, with Ashley’s family in the centre circle of Coronation Park, surrounded by Ashley’s friends and football legends.
The legends then gave a superb demonstration of controlled football and there were some superb goals notably from Laurie Duffield, Kelvin Mushambi and Nigel Jemson. Football fans were given a real treat seeing the legends show that they still had the magic and local Eastwood fans turned out too to see players from the past.
At the half time interval the ‘Ashley Wakelin Memorial Shield’ for ‘endeavour and commitment’ was presented by Ashley’s friends and work colleagues from DHL Express to Bilborough United FC. The shield will be presented each season to a player at Bilborough United who has shown those qualities. A poem dedicated to Ashley from friends at DHL was then read out and it was announced that DHL had also named a room after Ashley at their East Midlands Airport headquarters.
In the second half, Bilborough United replaced the ‘legends’ and showed why they are becoming a force in local football but Wakelin’s Raver Babies fought back and showed the sort of fighting spirit that Ashley was known for.
Afterwards in the Eastwood Town Social bar a raffle took place with over 30 prizes and then a charity memorabilia auction, with the highlight being a signed boxing glove, kindly donated by World Champion Carl Froch fetching £220 and which was won by Ashley’s mum.
On the day a total of £2,557.08 was raised and will be split between contributions towards Ashley’s memorial bench on Wollaton Park and the charities; The Compassionate Friends and Cruse Bereavement Trust. Presentations of these contributions will take place shortly. Further donations made after the money is distributed will be split 50/50 between both charities.
In addition, Ashley’s Grandma, Margaret Wakelin also made a donation of £500 towards the cost of two trees to be planted on Wollaton Park; one in memory of Ashley, and the other for his brother Dillon.
Special thanks go to Eastwood Town, all of those people involved with making this event a success and thanks to Councillor Graham Chapman who helped Ashley’s family in getting permission for Ashley’s bench.
There are still a few Memorial Programmes left and if anyone would like one please contact Wayne Smith.
If you would like further information or an interview please contact Wayne Smith on 07554016996 or wayno_smith7@hotmail.com.
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