Archive for category: BFSFA 2008-09

SKYE FC took on Tesco FC at the Co-op Sports and Social Club for the annual Matthew Jones Memorial Trophy today (Sunday 17 May).  The match was raising money to buy a permanent memorial for Matthew, who died last year, aged just 19, following a motorbike accident in which he suffered serious head injuries.
The promising young footballer had played for Skye FC and worked at Tesco.  A memorial bench is to be purchased and placed in Mereside, where he lived.  The Co-op Sports and Social, on Preston New Road, had donated the use of their pitch and changing facilities free of charge and it had been planned to hold a barbecue during the match. However, the torrential rain unfortunately put paid to that and apologies to anyone who came along expecting food who was disappointed.

It is planned to hold a fundraising barbecue for the same worthy cause in Mereside in the near future, as we now have about four tons of burgers, hotdogs, bacon and rolls stored in several people's freezers.
Despite the appalling weather, the players from both teams, who had paid a donation to play in the match, still gave it their all.  Skye FC were victors for the second year running, with the match finishing 2-0 after goals from manager Ali Martin and Ben Wiseman.  The match did not pass without incident – Skye's Steve Burke suffered a suspected broken nose following an accidental elbow from his opposite number.
Planned guest appearances for Skye by FC Loco's Joel Chappell and Lee O'Neill were, unfortunately, scuppered by a knee injury and work respectively.

The Tesco squad was led by Skye's own club captain, Winston Piper, also a manager at Tesco, while among Tesco FC's players was former Skye striker Sam Dyer, who now plays for first division champions Fylde Coast Gates. The idea was that both squads were made up of Matthew's former friends and team-mates.
Man of the match was Skye's Kyle Mathieson.

Thanks go to match officials Alex Gear (referee) and linesmen Adam Campbell and Craig Rimmer, who all donated their services free of charge. Each received a commemorative medal after putting on an excellent performance in monsoon-like conditions.

Following the match, DJ and footballer Gaz Pecks had offered to compere the post-match event at the Clifton Arms pub following his entertaining appearance at last year's event at the Central Club.  However, due to what can only be described as a “breakdown in communication” between members of the management team at the Clifton Arms, Gaz was unable to set up his decks, but still came along to support the event.

Apologies to anyone who had seen the event publicised in the local newspapers who had expected post-match music and banter at the pub – this mix-up was outside Skye's control, unfortunately, as Gaz had been booked in to play from 2pm, we were led to believe.  Instead, Skye secretary Karen Evans drew the raffle in a vastly less entertaining manner than Gaz's humorous display last year. 

Skye are hoping to have raised