Ex-Shaw Lane AFC players will be reuniting next week to play in a match organised to raise money in memory of Dan Wilkinson.
The Shaw Lane lads from the 2016/17 season will be part of a Wombwell Town X1 who will face Worsbrough Bridge – whose away shirt has the Dan Wilkinson Foundation logo on the front.
The match is being held at Wombwell on Monday 26th July and all proceeds will go to Foundation.
Wombwell director of football Doug O’Connor – who held the same post at Shaw Lane – is contacting the ex-Shaw Lane players.
So far brothers Kelvin and Kieran Lugsden, captain Ryan Qualter, Steve Istead, Spencer Harris, Alex Byrne and Joe Thornton are confirmed to be attending.
The match will be played as the fifth anniversary of the tragedy nears.
The tragic events of Monday 12th September 2016 when Dan collapsed on the pitch during the League Cup tie at Brighouse Town and sadly passed away will never be forgotten by anyone.
“That night will be with me forever,” Mr O’Connor told Non League Yorkshire.
“The Shaw Lane lads all say the same.
“You can’t explain how that can happen to a young lad who had everything going for him. He had finished university, got a job as an accountant, got a girlfriend and was moving into a new house in Sheffield.
“It is so so sad.”
Dan’s parents Barry and Gill have created an outstanding legacy for him.
They created the Foundation in 2016 and it provides funding towards heart-screening, defibrillators and CPR/defibrillator training, primarily for grass-roots sporting teams.
The Foundation also raises aware of sudden cardiac death in the young.
“Gill and Barry sent (Wombwell Town) a defibrillator last year so we have benefited from the Foundation,” Mr O’Connor added.
“They do fantastic work and it really serves Dan’s memory.
“They can’t come to the game (next week) because they are at an event in Scotland which has been booked in for while, but they do come down once or twice a year to see us (at Wombwell).
“A lot of the Shaw Lane volunteers like Dave Exley, Alan Percival, John Wilkinson help out or watch Wombwell.”