STAR TURNS BUT SHAUN IS THE HERO Legends rally round
TRAGIC Newmarket Town player Shaun Whiter is to be given a hero’s welcome when he watches his side play an Ipswich Legends XI today in a fundraising game for him. Brave Whiter, 27, lost both legs in a horrific car crash in Newmarket on July 1, which also left his friend, Soham Town Rangers midfielder Joey Abbs, seriously injured. The game on the Eastern Counties Premier side’s new 3G pitch has been arranged to raise money to help Whiter recover and rebuild his life. He will be allowed out of Cambridgeshire’s Addenbrooke’s Hospital for just a few hours so he can watch the game – and will be joined by Abbs, who is also starting out on the road to recovery. Former England captain Terry Butcher, who played 271 games for Ipswich, will manage the legends team. They will be captained by another former England and Town star, Kieron Dyer, who is on the coaching staff at Portman Road. Other former Ipswich players taking part will be Gavin Johnson, Simon Milton, David Wright, John McGreal and Darren Currie. Admission will be by donation, and adults are being asked to give a minimum of £10, with children free.
There are now 15 Crowdfunding appeals running to raise money for either Whiter or the pair.
The main one, set up by Whiter’s fiancé Charlotte Way in a bid to raise £120,000 for him, has so far raised nearly £75,000.
In total, the appeals have raised more than £90,000, and Newmarket secretary Graham Edwards hopes the receipts from today’s game will break the £100,000 barrier.
Marvellous
He said: “The hospital have agreed to let Shaun come out for a few hours on the afternoon so he can watch the game.
“Joey is coming as well. It will be absolutely marvellous to see them there.
“This is a fantastic effort by everyone involved in football. It is really heartening.”
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.
The game kicks off at 3pm.