Chasetown Football Club hosted a charity football match and family fun day on Sunday 7th August 2016 in memory of Hednesford man, Neil Bradbury, of Littleworth Road, who died suddenly of an undiagnosed heart condition on Sunday 15th November last year at the age of 35.

The fundraising event, organised by Neil’s younger brothers Marc and Adam Bradbury, with the help of Neil’s long-term girlfriend Amy Windle and other family and friends, saw the Lamb & Flag Football Team take on the Trafalgar Inn Football Team. The tense match ended 4-4 so went down to penalties in which the Lamb & Flag won 3-2. A minutes silence was held before the start of the game.

Other fundraising activities that took place on the day included a raffle, face painting, a bouncy castle, a BBQ and a cake sale. A signed Southampton football shirt and ball signed by the 2015/2106 squad was also up for grabs via an auction and raised £120 on the day. The items were generously donated by the now England manager Sam Allardyce.

The charity football match and family fun day was the latest in a series of fundraising events Amy and Neil’s family have been organising with the aim of eventually raising enough money to hold a free heart screening event in Hednesford for 100 plus young people. The event had a target of £3,000 to take them to the required £8,500 however this was surpassed and the day raised a total of £5,086.12! Amy has now decided to raise the bar and raise the money needed to hold two screening days in Neil’s memory.

Amy comments “When Neil died my world fell apart but I felt I had to do something to prevent another partner or family sharing our experience. CRY have been so supportive through their bereavement services, I had to give something back. Raising money not only means we are enabling the charity to continue their work and raise awareness of YSAD but it also keeps Neil’s memory alive which is so precious”.