Midland football legends' fun golf day raises thousands of pounds for good causes
Walsall Football Club legends got into the swing of things at a charity golf event held in aid of a schoolboy who has a rare illness.
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The day on the green was organised to treat 11-year-old Tyler Poston, who suffers from the blood cancer T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, to a dream holiday to a Disney attraction.
It was arranged by the Saddlers’ longest-serving goalkeeper Jimmy Walker at Walsall Golf Club in Broadway on May 9 towards Tyler's trip, and to support Acorns Children’s Hospice and his own JW23 Foundation which supports ex-players after they retire from football.
An estimated more than £5,000 was raised on the day for Tyler when the friends including Andy 'Rambo' Rammell, Peter Till, Karl Hawley and Kris Taylor got on the tee.
Jimmy says they had a really good day's play on the fairway.
“You couldn’t have asked for a better day. It's like we ordered it. It was amazing. The sun was shining. There were some great people there so everyone had a fantastic time.
“One of my most favourite days I've had I think. It took a lot of organising, a lot of phone calls, a lot of sorting and a lot of ringing around and trying to get players and the teams were pretty good.
“I was playing with a lot of my mates, ex-players, a lot of players I knew and a couple players I'd not met before played in it as well so all in all it was a fantastic day and lots of money was raised for a few great causes," he says.
Charlie Pithers, Tyler's11-year-old best friend, has also been fundraising for Tyler's cause and was there to see other Midlands football legends compete alongside Jimmy.
The retired goalkeeper finished top on the day after tournament leader Dave Kelly was unable to complete his round due to having to leave earlier than planned.
Other participants included former players Kyle Lightbourne, Kevin Wilson, Derek Mountfield, Colin Gibson, Mark Grew, Joe Mayo, Mickey Fudge and Andy Blair.
He was assisted by foundation patron Alan Pithers, of Perry Barr switch maker Bailey & Mackey, who helped to organised the event which attracted 19 teams despite some players from Walsall and Coventry missing out due to preparing for end of season play-off matches.
Jimmy adds: “The charities were the winner more than anything. I was delighted to be fair that the day just went so well."
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is a type of blood cancer where the bone marrow produces too many immature cells.
