Former players and managers are coming together to remember two club legends who helped shape their football club.
Nick Starling is part of the team at Dereham Football Club which is arranging a fundraising event in honour of Colin Wright and Mike Baldry on October 1 at Aldiss Park.
The event will feature a match between Dereham Old Boys and Old Stars, as well as an under-10s five-a-side game, to remember and honour Mr Wright and Mr Baldry, who shaped Dereham Town’s youth program.
“Stuart Baldry, Mike’s son has been heavily involved in bringing in the players, and it shows just how keen players were as we got 40 people, when you only need 22 but to get around double goes to show how Mike and Colin were remembered by everyone,” Mr Starling said.
“Everyone really wants to be there and keep their names in the memory and celebrate their legacy.”
The day will also raise money for the Big C charity, and Dereham Cancer Care, two groups which support people living with cancer and which had an effect on both of the men.
The pair helped form Dereham Youth in the early 90s, and were on the committee, in which Mr Starling joined when he was 36, and is still a part of 30 years later.
The 67-year-old added: “The pair of them would do anything and everything for the club.
“Mike was chairman for a couple of years, as well as a committee member and a life member.”
The club held a similar event for Mr Wright five years ago and had planned to make it a bi-annual occasion, but plans were scuppered by the pandemic.
Following Mr Baldry's death, they added his name and brought the event back - with hopes to make it bi-annual from this moment on.
Entry is on a donation basis, there will also be a bar, hot food, and a raffle.
You can donate to the cause by going here - https://www.justgiving.com/page/stuart-baldry-1695232193760?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Fstuart-baldry-1695232193760&utm_source=whatsapp&utm_campaign=pfp-whatsapp&fbclid=IwAR0T43AdVzm2iQkfvCimf-C3cHR269ZdqWYKa2LD43gK-wLNCZhBH5B1XS0
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