A charity football match played by power workers in memory of a much-missed colleague has raised a bumper £6,000 for Victim Support.
Richard Day, who worked as control engineer at UK Power Networks, was 45 when he died after being attacked in Ipswich town centre in February 2020. A teenager was jailed in April 2021 for his manslaughter.
Colleagues paid tribute to Richard with a football fixture last Friday at Brantham Athletic Football Club involving UK Power Networks staff from both Colchester and Ipswich which started with a minute’s silence in his honour.
All funds raised from the event, including a raffle, have gone to Victim Support in recognition of how the charity helped Richard’s family and friends after his loss, many of whom attended the fixture which the Essex side won 7-4.
Adam Spurling, a network manager who was a friend and colleague of Richard’s and played in the match, said: “Richie was a close friend and colleague of mine and I was delighted that his friends and colleagues could come together to honour his memory by doing a sport that he loved.
“I was honoured and privileged to captain our team playing in a kit with Richie’s name on the back.
“Credit to the Colchester team for winning what was a competitive game, but I think both sets of players and fans will agree that greater success was remembering our colleague while raising a significant amount of money for an important charity.
“As a team we were honoured to stand with Richie’s mother, father and his brother for a period of reflection before the game. It was an important moment for all of us.”
Jeff Hay, of UK Power Networks, who helped arrange the match, added: “It has been huge honour to help organise. Richard loved his football, and we celebrated his life by coming together to raise money for such an important charity that helped his family so much.
“To have Richard’s family members on the pitch before the game was very special. It was a very emotional night and one that I can personally say was a privilege to be part of.
“The scoreline was not important on the night the real winner was the charity. The total raised more than we ever imagined doing.
“I would like to thank all at UK Power Networks for their huge support especially from Alyssa Bates and Leon Howell who helped get this off the ground, along with all the staff that have bought raffle tickets and baked cakes each Friday ahead of the fixture.
“We have raised more money for the charity than I could ever have wished for, this was a wonderful night celebrating a truly wonderful man. The night will live long in the memory, as will Richard.”
Victim Support provides free and confidential support to anyone affected by crime, which can be accessed via the charity’s 24/7 support line or live chat on their website. The charity’s National Homicide Service offers support and advice to the family of all murder and manslaughter victims in England and Wales.
Ellen Milazzo, head of the National Homicide Service at Victim Support said: “We’re very grateful to everyone at UK Power Networks who organised this amazing event to raise money for our work supporting victims of crime across the country.
“A charity football match is a fantastic way to honour Richard’s memory, whilst raising awareness about the devastating impact of murder and manslaughter on loved ones, friends, colleagues, and whole communities.
“The fantastic amount of money raised will help us to make sure that anyone impacted by these awful crimes gets the support they need to cope and recover.”
