Game in loving memory
Memorial game for much-loved manager Paul Gallihawk attracts nearly 1,000 spectators.
Almost a thousand people packed into Maidstone United’s stadium to celebrate the life of a keen sportsman.
Paul Gallihawk, 34, of Postmill Drive, Tovil, drowned taking part in his first triathlon.
He died during the 750m swimming leg of the Ocean Lake Triathlon at Leybourne Lakes, Larkfield, in August.
In a fitting tribute, the football team he formed, Whitehawks FC, played a charity match against a side made up of big-name sportsmen, including former premier league player Nicky Southall, Leyton Orient assistant manager Andy Hessenthaler and Maid- stone’s manager Jay Saunders, dubbed Paul’s Eleven. Whitehawks won 7-3 at the Gallagher Stadium last Friday evening.
Tickets sales, donations, a raffle and a silent auction raised £11,850 for King’s College Hospital, Epilepsy UK and a memorial bench.
Prizes included signed football memorabilia and tickets to the Gallagher Stadium’s new VIP Lounge. Brother and sister Jordan and Carley Malet organised the match with help from Mr Gallihawk’s team mates and his parents, Malcolm and Linda, who went along with other family members.
Miss Malet said: “It went better than we could have expected. There was a one-minute applause before the match because we’d already had a silence and we wanted to celebrate his life. It was the team’s way of saying goodbye to Paul.”
Mr Gallihawk’s favourite song, Songbird by Oasis, was played and 23 minutes into the game his name appeared on the board as he always played in a number 23 shirt. An inquest opening heard the cause of death was immersion, with epilepsy being a contributing factor.