On Friday the 6th of April over 100 guests were treated to an evening of Football nostalgia when England’s 1966 world cup winning goal keeper Gordon Banks appeared at a fund raising evening in memory Daniel Hughes. The evening was hosted by Gordon’s former Stoke City team mate Terry Conroy. Gordon captivated the audience with stories from his early days at Chesterfield, winning the world cup with England, that save against Pele from the 1970 world cup and winning the league cup with Stoke City in 1972. Both Gordon and Terry posed for photographs and signed many autographs on the night. There was a short question and answer session at the end of the evening after which both former players received a standing ovation from those present.
Gordon very kindly donated a signed and framed print of the Pele save which was auctioned off on the night and sold for £350; an identical one which was donated by the Stoke City Old Boys Association also sold for the same amount. The auction in total raised £1,360 and included a signed Stoke City history book donated by Terry Conroy.
The evening was arranged by Daniels family, Mum Sue, Sister Kim and myself, Dave – Dan’s dad. Just over £2,200 for raised Daniel’s memorial fund with CRY. It isn’t everyday a legend of world football appears in our small village and to have him join in a toast to our son was something very special and we will never forget it.
David Hughes
