By Isle of Wight Observer
A pensioner has given a £1,000 donation to a youth football team. It will help their under-15s tour Belgium next year.
Barry Williams, from Freshwater, made the donation to Sandown’s Wight Eagles girls, who are raising £10,000 to fund their visit.
The Eagles are the Island’s only dedicated all-girls’ and ladies’ football club, and manager, Gordon ‘Flash’ Kirby, said: “It all came out of the blue; we were told Barry wanted to donated some money to us and we were expecting £500, but when we arrived he gave us a cheque for £1,000. It was amazing. We were gobsmacked by his generosity and it is so welcome.
“We go to Belgium in June next year, and play two friendlies. Some of our girls have been playing together for years, but next year, they will move out of youth football into women’s football, so this is their last chance of having this sort of experience.”
Barry had contacted the IW Observer asking us to pass on his details to the Eagles so he could make the donation, which we were happy to do.
He said: “I can’t get out nowadays, and I wanted to do something to help youth football because I was involved many years ago with my two sons. One of them represented the Island at the Island Games, and the other is in the Navy and coaches their football team.
“To be honest, I prefer watching women’s football nowadays – the men always seem to pass back to the goalkeeper!”
The Eagles are halfway to their £10,000 target, and have a GoFundMe page where they continue to take donations.
