Memorial Match Remembering Richard Sawyer, Saturday October 5th
After Corinthians Premier Cup clash on Saturday afternoon, the evening bowed to a remembrance match remembering a very special man in the shape of Richard 'Dickie' Sawyer, who we all sadly lost a few weeks ago whilst he was on holiday in Spain, a devastating loss for his family and friends at the age of just 46 years old.
Dickie was a big part of a lot of peoples lives, and two of his two footballing loves locally were Corinthians and Battlesbridge, so it was very fitting that the clubs got together to put on this memorial match in his honour and remember such a fantastic person who will be sorely missed by all that knew him.
The event was also supporting the charity 'Cardiac Risk in the Young' which is a cause that will help save lives and prevent other families from experiencing the kind of loss Dickie's family have, and many others have done too, the family of Dickie have set up a memorial fund to help CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) raise awareness of young sudden cardiac death, support those affected, support CRY’s screening programme and fund research and pathology. A link to this page can be found here https://www.c-r-y.org.uk/richard-dickie-sawyer/ so if you want to give to this please do, I certainly will.
Richard was more than just a coach at Corinthians, he was a big part of how it functioned, he dedicated a lot of his time to nurturing young talent and his influence can still be felt today as his love for football and his desire to help others on and off the pitch certainly earned him the respect and admiration whoever he worked with or came across.
His words of encouragement and infectious enthusiasm to players during training sessions, and his presence at Corinthians was invaluable and his passion for the sport was only matched by his kindness, which was felt by all who knew him, I can vouch for this as can many others, every time I met him he always had a smile on his face, and he was always keen to find out how I was and what I had been up to, he genuinely cared about the people he knew and loved, and I will always remember him in this way.
Hundreds had turned up to his funeral on Thursday, a testament to how loved and how many wanted to pay their respects, and a big old crowd turned up to this memorial game to help support his family and also pay their respects to such a wonderful person, it was a night to remember but also celebrate the 46 years Dickie had spent on this earth.
The Corinthians squad was made up of people Richard interacted with over his six year spell at the club, so a compilation of the Men's First Team, Women's side, U18s side & club representatives, whereas the Battlesbridge squad was made up of old team mates from Richard's playing days, and players he shared many holidays and nights out with. He spent a good part of twenty years playing in the Black & Yellow of Battlesbridge, so as said before it was fitting they should play against Corinthians this evening in his honour.
The clubs would be playing for a trophy, The Richard Sawyer Memorial Trophy, the club had also organised every player who took part in this game to sign a board and also a football which would be handed over to the family, their was also a wreath of a black and yellow shirt created for the occasion too, very fitting and a wonderful memory of this evening.
An impeccably observed minutes silence was carried out before the contest, and then the fun could then begin between two sides who really wanted to win but were there mainly to give Richard a fitting contest in his memory, Corinthians managed to go ahead after just three minutes after a handling error from the Battlesbridge keeper allowed the hosts to tuck home, only for the visitors to level after fourteen minutes as a loose ball inside the box was fired home.
And Bridge got their noses in front midway through the first half after a brilliant strike, meaning Dickie's former teammates had the slender advantage at the break.
The hosts though weren't going to denied in this one, and levelled in the 63rd minute after a bobbling effort from outside the box defeated the keepers dive, and then with twelve minutes to go they grabbed what proved to be the winner after a through ball was run onto and slotted into the corner despite a touch off the keeper.
Battlesbridge almost forced a penalty shoot out when they struck the post late on, but it was Corinthians who won the trophy but more importantly had played their part in what had been a decent contest played in the right spirit with plenty of commitment, just what Richard would have wanted, everyone here had certainly done him proud, and I am sure he was watching and smiling from above.
A really good evening and one that I was certainly proud to be part of, rest in peace Dickie, you'll be missed.....
Full time Corinthians XI 3 Battlesbridge XI 2
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