Almost £6,000 was raised at The Eyrie, home of Bedford Town Football Club, in the memory of a well-known football coach at the end of January in aid of the British Heart Foundation.
Bedford born and raised, Carl Roberts played and coached for a vast number of football clubs in Bedford, but passed away due to a heart attack in January 2024.
You can donate to the ongoing GoFundMe fundraiser here.
Born in Bedford on 1 February 1963, Carl spent his whole life in the town until he passed away on 28 January 2024.
He had a huge passion for football, playing as many days as he could, and then eventually getting into coaching. He started out at Bedford Mini Soccer Club in 2004, where he continued up until it closed due to the Covid pandemic in 2020.
US Valerio, Bedford FC, Brickhill, Wilstead and Kempston Rovers were all beneficiaries of his passion and knowledge for the game, giving so much to the community from Under 5’s all the way through to Under 18 sides.
“I want to say thank you to everyone who came down and donated”, said Carl’s son, Callum who organised the event at The Eyrie.
“This was my first time organising an event, and I’m so pleased it went so well. Thank you to Sam and Jon Taylor at Bedford Town for giving us the facilities for free.
“Thank you to all of the players, and everyone involved in setting up and make it such a special day! To see old and regular faces come together, and raise such an incredible amount, I genuinely can’t put into words how proud I am.
“I know for a fact Dad would of been watching and would of loved every minute of that night from the football to the party afterwards”, added Callum.
Many from Carl’s life also paid tribute on what was a special evening at Bedford Town Football Club.
“[It was] amazing night, great football and lovely people coming together to remember our amazing Carl and raising so much money for the British Heart Foundation”, said Carl’s wife of over 20 years, Karen.
“Also, because of his love of football, he would have loved it and would have been so proud of our son Callum for organising such a beautiful night. As am I!” she added.
Despite the heavy rain, more than 250 people turned out for the charity football match at The Eyrie, in a game that finished 4-4, with the pink team winning on penalties.
Many stayed on in the clubhouse for some soul music – Carl’s favourite genre – led by DJ Keith Stewart, managing to raise through both a GoFundMe fundraiser, and cash donations, raising £5650 for the British Heart Foundation, and counting.
And the whole occasion was summed up with beautiful words from one of Carl’s captains at Kempston Rovers:
“You don’t really know who will be there for you until you really need them, and the fact that so many people turned up for one man and his family just to watch lads kick a ball, tells you everything,” added Trevor Mthethwa.
Readers can still donate to the GoFundMe campaign in aid of the British Heart Foundation here.
