Thai school’s extension built in memory of murder victim
A FOOTBALL academy is helping build a school extension in Thailand in memory of murdered student Reamonn Gormley.
Blantyre Soccer Academy raises funds for the Good Child Foundation, the charity the 19-year-old volunteered for during his gap year before being stabbed to death in 2011.
The proceeds from the South Lanarkshire centre’s Reamonn Gormley Memorial Soccer Festival will this year fund an extension to a school in the Chanthaburi province which offers placements for children with Down’s syndrome.
Mr Gormley, a Glasgow University student, was knifed three times in Blantyre when he refused to hand over his mobile phone and wallet. His killers, who were on bail at the time, were jailed for more than 27 years.
The school extension will provide art classes.
Academy chairman Jimmy Whelan said: “It is anticipated that the art room will be up and running early in the new year. At the moment, the school has no art room, so this will bring joy to many kids.
“Blantyre Soccer Academy’s involvement with the Foundation came after the tragic death of Reamonn Gormley. We decided the community should give something back to the charity which was so close to Reamonn’s heart.”
Local MSP James Kelly said: “In my time representing Blantyre it has become clear that Blantyre Soccer Academy are making a real positive difference in communities, but I did not anticipate they would be helping build schools in South-East Asia as well as well-drilled football teams in South Lanarkshire.
“The death of Reamonn Gormley was a senseless tragedy which shocked people in Blantyre and across Scotland. What we have seen since in Blantyre is a real sense of community.
“He was clearly a special young man and his legacy sees thousands of children active in Scotland and schools being built in Thailand. That is something his family can be immensely proud of.”