|
12 May 2008 |
|
Brian Wembridge and Geoff Wicker Memorial Football Match |
|
|
Children from across East Sussex and the City of Brighton & Hove recently played in a charity football tournament in honour of Brian Wembridge and Geoff Wicker, the two members of East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service who died in the fireworks explosion at Marlie Farm in December 2006. Organised by Dave Amiet of East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, the tournament took place at Brighton & Hove Albion's Withdean Stadium on Sunday 4th May 2008. Proceeds from the charity matches were split between the Fire Services National Benevolent Fund and MacMillan Cancer Support. Each fire station in East Sussex entered a team of ten made up of local children from their area aged nine and ten. Firefighters from the local station were responsible for managing the young squads and offering essential encouragement on the big day! The winning team were presented with a new trophy, named as the Wembridge-Wicker Memorial Cup, by Chief Fire Officer for East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service Des Prichard, and members of Brian’s and Geoff’s families. The tournament was followed by a special match between Brighton & Hove Albion ‘All Stars’ and East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service. The ‘Seagulls’ team is set to include current first team manager Dean Wilkins alongside former players such as Ian Chapman, Russell Bromage, Paul Crighton, John Byrne and Paul Rogers. The football tournament follows a successful partnership between football and the fire and rescue service. Event organiser Dave Amiet has been working on a joint initiative for the past year with West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club and Sussex County Football Association to bring fire and road safety messages to young children in the county via football. Firefighter Dave, who is also a qualified football coach, takes the young people through a series of footballing skills, each with an important fire and road safety message. This includes working with children with disabilities as well as those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The team has worked with almost 18,000 children in 18 months, teaching them subjects such as fire safety, vehicle and road awareness, burns and healthy eating. Dave explains: “By talking to young people through the game of football, we’re able to break down barriers and they are more willing to listen to what we’re trying to say. Football is a great leveller, which anyone — both boys and girls — can enjoy. |
 |
|