Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Kieran’s life to be celebrated at charity football match
A charity football match will take place next month in memory of Airdrie schoolboy Kieran McDade.
The 13-year-old died in hospital a few days after collapsing at the start of a training session with Dunbeth FC 2003s in August.
Now players and coaches at the Coatbridge club are planning to honour the much-loved St Margaret’s High School pupil with a game at Albion Rovers’Exsel Group Stadium on Saturday, October 15.
The 2003s squad will face a Forth Valley Football Development Association Select.
Kick-off is 6pm and entry is £5 for adults and a bucket donation for kids.
At half-time, Dunbeth’s 2010s will play their Albion Rovers counterparts.
All proceeds from the day will be split between the A&E department at Monklands Hospital and the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow.
A Dunbeth FC statement on Facebook paid tribute to volunteers who have offered to help the big match go smoothly.
“One thing that would cap it all off is programmes for the event, ”the statement added. “If you are a printer or know of someone who could help we really would appreciate it.
“This would certainly offer people a chance of a memento of what is gearing up to be something special.”
If you can assist, contact Dunbeth FC through their Facebook page.
Meanwhile, ‘A Concert for Kieran’ will take place at Airdrie’s Sir John Wilson town hall on Saturday, October 22.
Once again, funds raised will go to Monklands A&E and Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children.
X Factor star Nicholas McDonald will headline the show which also features Colin Scougall, young comedian Ryan McGuigan, Kirsty McConnell and local band Anchor Lane.
Call Derek Murphy on 07739 576075 or Kev Mack on 07825 267557 for information on sponsorship opportunities, auction and raffle prizes.
Tickets for the event will be on sale soon.
A month ago our school community at St Margaret’s High received the dreadful news that one of our fellow pupils, Kieran McDade of S2, had tragically passed away at the age of just 13.
It was truly heartbreaking. All the other pupils were there as usual, walking from class to class, subject to subject, session to session. But after we were told about Kieran everything changed, the place felt hollow and dark.
We had lost a fellow pupil and a friend. A young man with hopes and aspirations. A young man with his whole life ahead of him. It was almost too much to take in.
My deepest condolences and sympathy go to Kieran’s family. I can’t imagine what they are going through at this terrible time.
Kieran’s funeral arrangements were organised with the help of the school and when Mr Quinn, head of religious education, asked me to perform a reading at the service, I considered it an honour.
Of course I said yes but, as well as being honoured I was also nervous about making sure I carried out the task correctly.
Along with Danny Willis of S3 and Michaela Stewartof S6, I conducted a reading to a church full of mourners, paying their respects to Kieran and his grieving family.
A powerful eulogy was delivered by our head teacher Mr Snee. It was very emotional and captured how everyone felt about Kieran.
Our school community is still just that, a community, with strong hopes, dreams and beliefs . But it is a community that has lost one of its brightest stars.
I have been asked to perform at a charity fundraiser in Kieran’s memory next month.
A Concert for Kieran will be held in Airdrie town hall on October 22 and its aim is to raise as much money as possible for Monklands Hospital and the Royal Sick Children’s Hospital in Glasgow, both of which treated Kieran when he suddenly fell ill at football training.
The fundraiser is being organised by Mr Derek Murphy, a coach at Dunbeath FC, the team that Kieran was such a star player for.
Once again, I am deeply honoured to be able to do what I can to help. Dear Advertiser readers, your support and generosity would be appreciated.