FEARLESS JOEY’S WATCHING BRIEF
BRAVE Soham Town Rangers midfielder Joey Abbs – injured in an horrific car crash which led to his friend Shaun Whiter’s legs being amputated – has attended a football match for the first time since being discharged from hospital.
Currently wheelchair-bound while he is starting out on the long road to recovery from a ‘serious’ leg injury, Abbs, 30, watched Newmarket Town – for who Whiter played – lose 4-0 at home to Cambridge United in a friendly on Tuesday.
The game was the first to be played on the Eastern Counties club’s new 3G pitch following Newmarket’s £750,000 stadium redevelopment.
Meanwhile, nationwide appeals for money to help Whiter and Abbs have reached £80,000, said Newmarket secretary Graham Edwards. A Crowdfunding page set up by Whiter’s fiance Charlotte Way aims to raise £120,000.
Praise
Edwards this week singled out Halstead Town for special praise in the fundraising drive. Due to host Newmarket in the FA Cup extra pre- liminary round on August 6, Halstead not only agreed to donate all the profits from the game, but have moved it to the Sunday, August 7, in the hope of swelling the attendances.
Saffron Walden Town and Stanway Rovers each held bucket collections at pre-season games and raised around £250 each.
Ipswich Town are to send a team including past legends to play Newmarket on July 31, kick off 3pm, in a benefit game, and Cambridge United are arranging a fundraising tournament to be held at the Abbey on a date to be arranged.
Dangerous
Whiter, 27, an estate agent, was helping Abbs change a tyre at the side of a road when they were both seriously injured on July 1. Haverhill man Jan Adamec, 40, who had denied two charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, has been remanded in custody and will appear before Cambridge Crown Court on August 8.
Edwards said:“I was shown a picture of the two in the grounds of Addenbrooke’s Hospital when they were allowed outside during the heatwave on Tuesday and it was fantastic to see.
“What struck me most had to be the smile all over Shaun’s face, as if he was in the joys of spring.
“The guy is just incredible. I can’t find words to describe him.
“We are getting donations from all over the country. This whole incident has brought out the best in people and the football community has been wonderful.”
Tottenham fan Whiter has received a letter from Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino praising his ‘incredible courage’.