Note that this page is from our archive during the time when the club was called Gresley FC. It may not be related to the old Gresley Rovers.
Thank You , Thank You, Thank You
Yesterday’s fund raising match held at Gresley FC to help raise funds for Jamie Barrett’s wife Leanne to help with her ongoing battle with cancer was a huge success with almost £9000 raised.
The result of the match was deemed insignificant but there was some great football action and goals on show as the Jamie Barrett friends XI came from behind to beat the Jamie Barrett team mates XI by a narrow 6-5 margin.A crowd of 498 turned up for the match which was fantastic and greatly appreciated by the event organiser and the clubs first team manager Gary Norton who told the club's website, “We was absolutely blown away by the level of support both on the terraces and from those that took part in the game. Everyone’s generosity for the cause was remarkable and we are so happy with the amount we managed to raise on the day. Chatting to one of the lads who helped us organise the event we set a hopeful target of perhaps getting around a 300 attendance and perhaps raising around £4-£5000 from the event so to get raise almost £9000 was unbelievable and way exceeded anyone’s expectation.”
He added, "The actual total raised so far stands at £8,976.70 which includes some owed auction monies we will collect this week and we will still, no doubt, get some more donations from people who were not able to make it yesterday to take us over the £9000 mark.
"The generosity of everyone who came to the game and also those who donated the amazing prizes for the raffle and auction was heartwarming and really goes to show just what can happen when a local community, family and friends all pull together around such likeable people like Jamie and Leanne. I’m so proud of everyone involved from the club's perspective and in particular all of the volunteers who were involved in making the day as successful as it was.
"It takes a lot of people and a lot or organizing to pull something like this together and I know Jamie and Leanne extend their sincere thanks for everyone who helped make the day a success as do I. There are far too many volunteers to mention individually but they know who they are and should be proud of both themselves and the club.
The amount raised on the day also included a sizeable donation from Shepshed Dynamo following a collection held there recently. The donation was brought to the game yesterday by former manager Damian Beckford-Qualey who played in the game as part of the Jamie Barrett friends XI.
Shepshed are the latest in a number of clubs to show their support for the cause and shows the high esteem in which Jamie is held in the football community. Norton added, “the response from the football community in general had been amazing and we have had several clubs who have held collections and made donations to the cause and Shepshed are the latest and we thank both them and all the clubs who have contributed to the cause. It really has been amazing and it was great to see Damian yesterday come down and play and make the donation from Shepshed which also included a donation cheque from our former chairman Barry North which was such a nice gesture typical of the man."
