Saturday 7th June 2014
Football, friends and laughter… Danny’s idea of a perfect Saturday. Even in the rain. Even when it involved thirty guys displaying their middle-aged spreads and definitely struggling to recreate any footballing ability of twenty years ago.
But he would have been extremely proud to see so many Hull University and Hull Daily Mail alumni congregate to play a match in his honour last Saturday on Inglemire lane. And he would have loved to lead the banter in the Gardners Arms pub afterwards.
The match – organised by The Fearless Foundation and Chris Harvey, Danny’s former boss at Hull Daily Mail – was never going to be a classic.
Loose formations, misplaced passes, shots reaching neighboring tennis courts and, as Chris tweeted later, some issues with “greasy” goalkeeping gloves (he also suggested the Uni team was “youthful” – we love him for that. If only). But what we lacked in quality we more than made up for in love for the game. And our sorely missed friend.
It was also lovely for many of us to spend the evening reminiscing at old haunts. Some of the favoured drinking holes are no longer there or are under different names and ownerships. Parts of the City also look much smarter than they did pre-1993. But Hull retains the same lovely charm and wonderfully friendly people. Which again reminds us of why we loved Danny so much.
As for the match, the presence of some former University first team players undoubtedly made the difference – though the 3-0 win was secured with goals from Danny’s University housemates – the slightly lukewarm Grafton St. strikeforce of Dickinson/Deards. The identity of the scorers would have slightly rankled with him. He would certainly have called them all flukes. But what did he know about football?
Money was raised for the Fearless Foundation and probably rash promises were made to “do this again”. We’d love to. Please get in contact if you are interested in a challenge and will not play teenage whippet ringers.
Next up for Fearless, though, are the San Remo and Ride London charity bike rides.
If you would like to donate to the Fearless Foundation then please click here.
