Chesterfield FC’s Memorial Garden fundraisers reach £35,000 target

The £35,000 fundraising target to complete the Chesterfield FC Memorial Garden has been reached.
Partial unveil of new memorial at Chesterfield FC, pictured here is Phil Tooley with artwork of David Blakey, an ex player who died this year.Partial unveil of new memorial at Chesterfield FC, pictured here is Phil Tooley with artwork of David Blakey, an ex player who died this year.
Partial unveil of new memorial at Chesterfield FC, pictured here is Phil Tooley with artwork of David Blakey, an ex player who died this year.

Five memorials have been unveiled in the Chesterfield FC Memorial Garden which will serve as a permanent tribute to past players, staff and club contributors including those who died in wars.

The Spireites’ supporters club, who launched the project, unveiled part of the memorial at the Proact Stadium, on Sheffield Road, at Whittington Moor, earlier this month.

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Fundraising coordinator Phil Tooley said: “There have been many significant acts of incredible generosity by individuals, organisations and companies.

“But the one that took us over the line was something extra special.

“Our fundraising Gala Dinner at the start of this month, attended by many of our supporters and sponsors, had many emotional moments during the evening and that emotion spilled over to someone who’d not even been there.

“One of our guests was showing a neighbour photographs and reports of the event and they mentioned that, at that time, the target had reached £33,000, that being £2,000 shy of the overall target.

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“The neighbour, impressed by the efforts made, then offered to donate the remaining £2,000, meaning we’d reached our target just a little over six months after the formal fund-raising launch.

“The Garden will continue to evolve so our fundraising task will never end, but that gesture from someone not directly involved with the club or even the town just shows you how many extremely generous people there are in the World and that this Memorial Garden, the finest example in British Football, has touched many hearts.”

The next developments, all due by the end of next month, are a replacement lamp post, benches, a pergola and a couple of interpretation boards.

The fundraising committee is also looking at a couple of potential items that can now be funded ahead of the official opening of the Memorial Garden which has, subject to confirmation, been set for 6pm, Sunday, September 28.

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