Bicester Motion fire: Charity football match in honour of victims
A charity football match in honour of three people killed in a fire at a business park is about "getting the community together", one of its organisers has told the BBC.Firefighters Jennie Logan, 30, and Martyn Sadler, 38, along with father-of-two Dave Chester, 57, were killed in the blaze that engulfed a hanger on the Bicester Motion site on 15 May.Ardley United, based near the town, will face off against a team of Oxford United legends to raise funds for the Firefighters Charity on 20 July.The club's chairman, Ian Feaver, said it "needed to do something" as the incident had "affected the whole of the Bicester community".
"When we think about Jennie, Martyn and David, pretty much everyone knows someone who knew one of those three people - so it really does affect everybody in quite a bad way," he said."Raising funds for the Firefighters Charity is important, but [it's also important] to get the community together to have an enjoyable evening whilst remembering those people."
Mr Feaver said Oxford United had been "absolutely fantastic" in "supporting us to do something to raise funds".Several U's legends, including three players who secured the club's return to the Football League at Wembley in 2010, will feature in the game.James Constable, who scored the second goal in that win over York City, said he was "massively looking forward" to the encounter."It's something really tough hearing that news that people have lost their lives trying to keep us all safe," he said."As soon as there was a mention of a game and something as simple as kicking a ball around with mates and raising money, it was something that I was keen do."The match - which will be refereed by current Football League ref and former firefighter Sam Allison - is a ticket-only event, with all money raised going to the Firefighters Charity.
You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
12 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Former England bowler David Lawrence dies aged 61 after MND battle
It was revealed almost exactly a year ago that Lawrence, who took 18 wickets in five Tests for England between 1988 and 1992, was the latest sportsperson to be diagnosed with motor neurone disease. The announcement was in the same month ex-England and Leeds rugby league great Rob Burrow died after a long battle with the incurable illness, which progressively damages parts of the nervous system. David Lawrence was made an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours (PA) A statement from Lawrence's family given to the PA news agency said: 'It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dave Lawrence MBE following his brave battle with motor neurone disease. ''Syd' was an inspirational figure on and off the cricket field and no more so than to his family who were with him when he passed. 'A proud Gloucestershire man, Syd took on every challenge with everything he could and his final contest with MND was no different. His willingness to encourage and think of others right up to the end was typical of the man he was.' As well as his six outings for England – having played a lone ODI against the West Indies at Lord's in 1991, collecting four for 67 – Lawrence bagged 625 wickets in 280 matches for Gloucestershire. A strapping fast bowler who was renowned for being one of the quickest on the county circuit, Lawrence began to establish himself in Tests and a five-for against the West Indies in 1991 helped England seal a series-levelling win at the Oval, with Desmond Haynes and Viv Richards among his haul. Gloucestershire Cricket is devastated to learn of the passing of former player and Club President, David 'Syd' Lawrence MBE, aged 61. Everyone at Gloucestershire Cricket would like to send their best wishes to David's family during this terribly sad time. — Gloucestershire Cricket 🏆 (@Gloscricket) June 22, 2025 But Lawrence's career all but ended the following year as he badly fractured his kneecap after falling awkwardly when running into bowl on the final day of a Test against New Zealand in Wellington. His England days were immediately over aged 28 but he made a brief county comeback in 1997, playing four first-class games for Gloucestershire before hanging up his boots – 16 years after he first played professionally. Lawrence became a competitive bodybuilder following his retirement and he was also a nightclub owner in Bristol. After Lawrence detailed his experiences of racism during his playing career, Gloucestershire issued an unreserved apology in September 2021 and six months later he became the county's first black president. The county side posted on X: 'Gloucestershire are devastated to learn of the passing of former player and club president, David 'Syd' Lawrence MBE, aged 61. 'Everyone at Gloucestershire would like to send their best wishes to David's family during this terribly sad time.' Following his MND diagnosis, there were emotional scenes when Gloucestershire went all the way in the T20 Blast last year, with captain James Bracey presenting the trophy to Lawrence at Edgbaston. Lawrence's family statement added: 'As president of Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, Syd took on the role with incredible pride and passion and loved every minute of it. 'Syd's wife Gaynor and son Buster thank everyone for the kindness and support that has been shown to them and the family so far and would ask that they are now given some time and space to grieve in private.' Only last week, Lawrence received an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours for his outstanding services to cricket, while he had been working to raise money and awareness of his condition. He said: 'It is an incredibly proud moment. It is not something that I ever thought would sit after my name, but I am absolutely delighted that it will do so for however long I am here and will be a part of my legacy when I am gone.' Lawrence's MND diagnosis hastened his autobiography as he worried he would lose the ability to speak. Titled 'In Syd's Voice', written with the help of Dean Wilson, the book was published this month.
The Guardian
13 minutes ago
- The Guardian
David ‘Syd' Lawrence, former England cricketer, dies aged 61
David 'Syd' Lawrence, the first British-born Black cricketer to play for England, has died at the age of 61. It was revealed almost exactly a year ago that Lawrence, who took 18 wickets in five Tests for England between 1988 and 1992, was the latest sportsperson to be diagnosed with motor neurone disease. The announcement was in the same month ex-England and Leeds rugby league great Rob Burrow died after a long battle with the incurable illness, which progressively damages parts of the nervous system. A statement from Lawrence's family read: 'It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dave Lawrence MBE following his brave battle with motor neurone disease. 'Syd' was an inspirational figure on and off the cricket field and no more so than to his family who were with him when he passed. 'A proud Gloucestershire man, Syd took on every challenge with everything he could and his final contest with MND was no different. His willingness to encourage and think of others right up to the end was typical of the man he was.' More details soon …
Telegraph
16 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Former England paceman David ‘Syd' Lawrence dies at 61 after MND battle
While England were battling against India at Headingley under a sunny sky, the news of the death of their former fast bowler David Lawrence, at the age of 61, filtered through. England wore black armbands on day one of this opening Test to commemorate the Ahmedabad plane crash, and will have to wear them again. Few photographs in cricket are more affecting than one taken last September after Gloucestershire, Lawrence's county, had won the T20 Blast at Edgbaston on finals day. Crippled by a suddenly cruel version of motor neurone disease, Lawrence, the county's president, was already confined to a specially-made wheelchair, and as the trophy was proudly shown to him by James Bracey, tears were impossible to withhold. The cruel irony was that Lawrence, in the prime of his playing days, had probably the longest and most zestful run-up in the whole of professional cricket. He would start near the sightscreen and build up pace like a steam engine, pistons pumping, trying to seize the land-speed record from the City of Truro. A mighty physique, one that went on to win bodybuilding prizes after his cricket career was terminated with no less cruelty. 'The big man upstairs is not a Gloucester fan,' Lawrence was driven to say. Of Jamaican ancestry, Lawrence came from Gloucester and was therefore the first black cricketer born in Britain to represent England. In his wheelchair, he dictated an autobiography which was published shortly before his death, in which he paid tribute to Gloucestershire's former captain then chief executive Tony Brown, for guiding him towards the straight and narrow. He drove him down to Taunton for mentoring by Sir Vivian Richards as he is now; it was Richards who spelt out the historic opportunity for Lawrence. In the 1980s, Courtney Walsh and Lawrence formed the fastest pair of opening bowlers in county cricket. They weren't too bad on a slow pitch at Nevil Road in Bristol, but on a hard, sun-baked outground of a pitch at Cheltenham in July or August they could be ferocious. The pace & power of David 'Syd' Lawrence 👀 #GoGlos 💛🖤 #BlackHistoryMonth — Gloucestershire Cricket 🏆 (@Gloscricket) October 28, 2021 As raw pace is such a rarity, Lawrence might have been selected sooner than the one-off Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's in 1988; or at any rate he should not have waited until 1991 before he was recalled for his second Test. He took 10 wickets in his two Tests against West Indies that summer, when they were still the world Test champions in all but official name. The Oval Test was the last in the career of Richards, and Lawrence dismissed him for 60 in his final innings. Lawrence had to be selected for the tour of New Zealand that winter. The Wellington Test was petering out into a sterile draw when Lawrence marked out his run-up from the pavilion end in New Zealand's second innings. One might have wondered why he was allowed to bowl at all. In New Zealand's first innings he had delivered 27 overs, which was more than England's other three non-spinners combined. In these days of data and duty of care, he would have been considered to be in the red zone, where he was liable to physical injury if he kept bowling. A crack like a pistol-shot rang round the Basin Reserve, followed by screams of pain. Lawrence had broken his left kneecap. It was a major operation in itself to ferry him from the field. His Test career, after only five Tests and 18 wickets, was over. While he was recovering back in England, Lawrence, or 'Syd', went to the nets at Nevil Road. He could walk again but not run, and he could not resist picking up a ball and walking up to the bowling crease, and his first ball back after breaking his kneecap whistled through as normal: the pace was still there. But he would not consider returning to a county career with a run-up of three or four paces. This is all that India's fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah takes in effect, after a couple of stutters and strides, but these are different and less conventional times. A brief comeback for Gloucestershire in 1997 led nowhere. He opened a nightclub in Bristol and channelled his energies into bodybuilding. He was delighted to become Gloucestershire's president, the first non-white cricketer to be accorded the honour by a county, and he had the surrogate pleasure of watching his son Buster enjoy a professional rugby career. Until a minor injury was diagnosed as something far more serious. Soon Lawrence could not walk. Soon he could not talk. The cricket community rallied round to fundraise and earlier this month a match was played for him at Downend CC, attended by his former opening partner Walsh. Another mighty physique had played on the ground, WG Grace. Lawrence attended too, but only just. ''Syd' was an inspirational figure on and off the cricket field and no more so than to his family who were with him when he passed,' a family statement said. 'A proud Gloucestershire man, Syd took on every challenge with everything he could and his final contest with MND was no different. His willingness to encourage and think of others right up to the end was typical of the man he was.' Last month, he was awarded an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours List. Few recipients can have gone through so much pain to win the honour.
