Club and fans rally round stricken players
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Elgin City defender Steven Edwards
MORAY has rallied to support an Elgin City footballer whose little daughter has been diagnosed with leukaemia.
Defender Steven Edwards and his wife, Lisa, were devastated to discover earlier this month that their three-year-old daughter Georgie needed to undergo cancer treatment.
Elgin manager Ross Jack revealed how the news had rocked the Borough Briggs club, but said the response has been “overwhelming” with players, directors and supporters offering gestures and messages of support.
The Third Division outfit was also hit by a second blow when full-back Allan Dempsie’s father died on the morning of Saturday’s match against Clyde.
City were unlucky to lose the match 1-0, with Jack saying his team was desperate to win it for the sake of the stricken pair and their families.
“It was important to focus on the game, but also to have a thought for Steven and Allan,” Ross said. “But I was very, very touched by the response of everyone at the club, and indeed the whole community.”
While a minute’s silence was held in respect of Dempsie’s father, a collection was held for Edwards and his family. Cash was collected at Friday night’s sportsman’s dinner, as well as before and after Saturday’s game.
“The generosity of the public has been absolutely overwhelming, and very heart-warming,” said the City boss.
“Whether it was people at the dinner, the ladies’ day and stag party we had on Saturday as corporate guests, our photographer Bob Crombie and his wife – so many people wanted to make a contribution to Steven after the news he’s had.”
And having since spoken to Edwards, who works as a fireman in Inverness, Jack said the player was deeply touched by the public’s reaction to his daughter’s illness. He has also reported that his little girl has responded well to her first course of chemotherapy treatment.
“Georgie will need around three years of constant treatment, but the initial signs are good,” Jack said.
Elgin defender David Niven said the team wanted a victory over Clyde so they could dedicate it to Edwards and Dempsie.
“We all had a collection for Steven last week when we found out, and our best wishes go out to him and his family,” he said. “So it was a real blow to find out about Demo’s dad as well.
“It was enough to really get us up for the game, and we just can’t believe we didn’t win it.”
With his daughter being treated at Yorkhill Hospital in Glasgow, Edwards is expected to miss the remainder of Elgin’s season. Dempsie, whose father’s funeral was on Wednesday, has yet to make a decision on whether he will play in the next match at East Stirling on Saturday.
As well as the visit to Ochilview this weekend, City will have a swift Borough Briggs’ rematch with Clyde to contest on Tuesday night.
But manager Jack has an end-of-season injury crisis to contend and could be forced to recruit from his youth ranks to make up numbers.
Keeper John Calder caught his studs on the Astroturf during training on Tuesday and will miss out with a knee injury. Centre backs Jamie Duff and Mark Nicolson are both serious doubts, Ross O’Donoghue has a groin strain, while Barry Wilson was laid low with a chest infection this week.
Peter Donnelly will be back in goal, backed up by 15-year-old Stuart Black on the bench, and captain Paul Kaczan returns from suspension.
