The mens 1st Team climbed Snowdon on Saturday to raise funds for the season ahead and the Liam Keeling Fund.

The team went up in two groups. One reached the summit in an impressive 1 hour 45 minutes whilst the other group joined them shortly after with a time of 2 hours 20 minutes.

Thanks to all that took part and to all that supported us!

Phil McGuinness

19th-21st May 2011

FIVE brave cyclists will be pedaling 200 miles to West Bromwich Albion’s final match of the season in Newcastle.

The group is doing the challenge in memory of football-mad teenager Liam Keeling, who died from meningitis in October 2009, aged 13.

They hope to raise over £3,000 for Meningitis UK as they cycle from West Brom via Alfreston, York and Chester-le-Street to Newcastle’s St James’ Park ground for the May 22 match.

Leading the pack is Sean Flagherty, who used to coach Liam in the Wyrley Juniors team alongside Liam’s dad Andy.

He is being joined by Kevin Sedgewick, Mick Law, Craig Walton and David Mitchison, with support en route from Roy and Kathy Lowe.

Shaun said: “When Liam tragically died we said we wanted to cycle to a game. I suggested Newcastle and just hoped it wouldn’t be a fixture in the depth of winter.

“Luckily it turned out to be the last match of the season, which seemed fitting.

“It’s just short of 200 miles in total, so around 70 miles a day. We’ve put a lot of effort in on the road to build up our legs for the ride. It’ll be tough but hopefully we’ll have a laugh along the way.”

The fundraising drive in memory of Liam, from Cheslyn Hay, has now topped the £70,000 mark, thanks to the continued efforts of the Liam Keeling Memorial Fund.

Anyone wishing to sponsor Sean please phone 07841332212

Wyrley Juniors FC Mens First Team completed a 10 mile Sponsored Walk on Saturday from Walsall FC, The Banks’ Stadium to the Ascot Tavern Cannock raising in excess of £1,000 in the process.

Manager Phil McGuinness (who wore the Walsall ‘Swifty’ Mascot costume throughout the walk), Assistant Manager Paul Baker and Secretary Trevor Foster were joined by the Squad and some of the players children for the walk which was organised to raise funds for Meningitis UK and towards the running costs of the Mens Team. The age of the participants ranged from 50 years old to 11 year old Scott Baker and 4 year old Korey Brough.

 It was a really good effort from all involved and its pleasing to have raised a large amount of money for a good cause.  The team had a lot of help organising this event and we would like to Thank Corky’s Corporate Cars for kindly providing Minibuses to ferry us to Walsall FC, The Ascot Tavern for allowing us to use the Pub as a meeting and finishing point, Walsall FC for the loan of the ‘Swifty’ costume, Trevor Foster for coming up with the idea and to all of the team for taking part.

The walk took the team a total of 3 hours and 45 minutes to complete and they took in Walsall Town Centre, Leamore, Bloxwich Town Centre and Great Wyrley on their way to the finishing line. The team would like to Thank everybody who cheered them on  and everybody who kindly sponsored us.

Manager, Phil McGuinness, will be donning the Walsall FC mascot uniform – Swifty – with the remainder of the team probably in their WJFC kit.

20% of all monies raised will go the Liam Keeling Fund, with the remainder helping the team with their substantial running costs.

Anyone wishing to sponsor the team on their walk can either let Phil or me know, post a comment below or complete the attached sponsor form.

Good luck lads!

WJFC – Men Sponsored walk

A few photos from the day below – the first showing both teams about to lead the applause and the second a young Wyrley supporter, Charlotte, with Swifty.

The third photo is of someone who looks slightly familiar – let’s hope he’s recaptured soon!

The fourth photo was taken before the game and has been kindly copied in to us by John Spittle of Magic Touch Photography. This is a super photograph – if you would like copies or require quality photographic work, please contact John on MagicTouchPhotography@msn.com or 07914844877. Our thanks go to John for taking the photo and providing a framed copy free of charge to the Club.

If anyone else has photos – can they send them into me please?

After tremendous support from nearly every team within Wyrley Juniors, Managers, ex Managers, family and friends of Andy, Georgina and Hannah, the magnificent sum of nearly £6,500

was raised.

The game was covered by Central News, Express and Star and the Evening Mail, to hopefully highlight the need for funding to find a cure for the meningitis strain that cruelly took Liam away from us.

There were some tremendous efforts by more than a few individuals within the Club and I was, to quote Trevor Smith, ‘Proud to be Wyrley!’

I know that no other Club could have carried off what we achieved today and I must express my thanks to everyone who contributed in any small way – well done!

Once again – Proud to be Wyrley!

The other great news is that I’ve just received confirmation that Alan Wiley

is refereeing the game for us! He is to get the Manchester United v City game out of the way tonight and then concentrate on the big game on Sunday!!

We just need the weather to hold off for us and we should raise over £5000!!

Keith

Details are as follows: -

Venue – Cheslyn Hay WMC
Date – 19th February 2010
Time – 7.30 for 8.00
Price – Adults £5 and Children £2

There will be at least 5 acts, with all takings going to Meningitis UK in memory of Liam Keeling. I would hope that we have a full house of 160 people.
For tickets, please contact me on 07836202764.

Our thanks go to Cheslyn Hay WMC for volunteering to organise the night for us.