The family of Letchworth community sport legend Vince Paige have raised £3,000 in his memory to help youngsters play for his old team.
Vince, who co-founded Letchworth Garden City Eagles FC in 1979, died in February – and on Sunday his daughter Clare, son Chris and son-in-law Ian handed over the cheque to Adam and Laura Harpur from the James Harpur Player Support Fund.
The support fund – set up in memory of the Harpurs’ brother James, who died aged 18 in a 2012 car crash – helps children from less privileged backgrounds meet the cost of things like Garden City Eagles training fees and match subsidies.
And the cheque was handed over during the fund’s fourth annual five-a-side fundraising tournament, at the Eagles’ ground off Baldock Road.
Vince’s son-in-law Ian Crawley told the Comet: “We set up crowdfunding after Vince passed, and raised about £3,800 in all.
“The player support fund was close to Vince’s heart – he knew the Harpur family and he was on the committee for the fund himself.
“Vince never wanted any recognition or anything for what he did, raising money and helping many, many children. But I think he would have been really happy to see so much money raised.
“Anything to do with the community or helping youngsters, he was always there getting involved with everything.”
Sunday’s tournament raised a further £1,500 for the cause, with 16 teams taking part in the tournament as They Think It’s Moldova retained their title for another year – winning the final on penalties.
And Ian has now accepted the invitation to join the fund.
Adam explained: “We feel it’s only right to keep the family 100 per cent involved along the way – after all, Vince helped us set up the charity.
“Their money gives us even more opportunity to help people in the future.”
The fundraising in Vince’s honour has also meant a boost of £400 each for the Herts Air Ambulance and Letchworth-based Garden House Hospice Care.
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