Just under a year ago
the college as a whole -
but in particular the
National Diploma in
Football staff and
students - were
devastated by the tragic
death of 17 year old
student Dan Matthews.
Dan was an incredibly
well-liked classmate and
talented footballer but
first and foremost a
great friend to all who
knew him.
The cause of Dan’s death
was due to cardiac
failure – according to
CRY ‘every week in the
UK at least 12
apparently fit and
healthy young people die
of undiagnosed heart
conditions.’ It was a
unanimous decision from
the students to aim to
raise money for this
charity in memory of
Dan.
The cricket match
between the first and
second year football
students took place on
the rubber crumb on a
glorious afternoon and
after restricting the
second years to 99 all
out the first years
looked on course for a
comfortable win, before
a batting collapse
handed the win to the
more experienced second
year squad. Scott Carbin
top scored with 27 and
collected the man of the
match award.
The
triangular football
tournament was a
competitive affair as
predicted and couldn’t
have been closer after
the group stage as all
three tutor groups had 3
points from two games.
Unfortunately for NDSF2B
- the pre-tournament
favourites – they missed
out on making the final
through goal difference.
NDSF2A beat NDSF1B 1-0
in a well contested
final thanks to a goal
from veteran Brett
Gardner and some
desperate defending in a
game that the first
years arguably
dominated.
NDSF student Martin
Pates was involved in
organising the football
tournament but also
raised extra money by
himself though selling
CRY wristbands and also
running the Tewksbury
half marathon at the
start of May.
NDSF Tutor Shaun Gluyas
said, “All the
students involved,
either through
organising or
participating, have been
a credit to Hartpury and
generous with their
donations, raising money
through a variety of
methods. Special mention
must go to Martin Pates
for the extra
fundraising he
completed. As a
football department we
are very proud of the
way our students have
raised money for an
important charity and
cause that affected us
so deeply last June.
Hopefully the money
raised can raise the
awareness of CRY and
help those affected in
the future."
Undoubtedly
the two most successful
events were an
entertaining 1st year vs
2nd year cricket match
and a tutor group
triangular football
tournament - both
in terms of being
enjoyable for the crowds
and also the amount of
money raised.