Charity football match held in honour of David ‘Did’ Williams from Dover raises hundreds
15:10, 05 September 2023
updated: 18:32, 05 September 2023
A charity football match held in honour of a dad who died last year raised almost £900.
Approximately 100 friends and family joined 120 players for the event in Hawkinge in memory of David ‘Did’ Williams who was a well-known and talented football coach from Dover.
Mr Williams was an “Aycliffe boy through and through” and helped out training several teams in east Kent.
The Chelsea supporter was working as a handyman for Kent Handyman prior to his death.
He leaves behind his four children Chelsea, Tyler, Chloe and Theo.
Hours before his death, the 39-year-old had contacted his partner indicating his intention to end his life, but she did not see it until she woke later that morning, an inquest into his death was told.
By the time she and emergency crews had arrived at Mr Williams' home, he had already died.
The match on August 27 was the second charity football match held in memory of Did with the money raised going to LADS mental health charity and the family of a boy who is battling Leukemia.
Half of the £897.48 raised will go to each cause.
Friends of Did say he was a “popular and much-loved guy”, with one team even changing its name to honour their friend.
The game was between Aycliffe All Stars – which was made up of Did’s childhood friends – and Dublin Railway Crick which was made up of teams he played for.
Railway Dublin Crick has renamed itself this season and the team will be called Fishing is Therapy in honour of Did.
There are eight teams playing in two leagues of four this year with Aycliffe All Stars playing to defend their trophy.
Other teams include Dover Town Wanderers, Hawkinge, LADS, Dover Rangers, The Eagle & Every Mind Matters FC.
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