Joe Fagan Walk Completed
Mon 15th December 2014 | Nelson | By Ian Templeman
Nelson's first major fundraiser towards raising money for the new Joe Fagan Stand at Victoria Park was completed on Saturday afternoon.
The event involved 12 supporters from Nelson and Liverpool FC undertaking a 63 mile sponsored walk that started at Anfield at 7 pm on Friday evening and ended at Nelson at around 3 pm on Saturday.
The walk was planned after officials and supporters at Nelson decided that they wanted to celebrate the life and memory of former Liverpool manager Joe Fagan, who took his first steps in management at Nelson, managing the Admirals between 1951 and 1953.
The decision was taken to build a new stand at the club house end of Victoria Park and rename it the Joe Fagan Stand.
A dedicated team of 12 walkers completed a 63 mile walk that took in nine football clubs along the way including Liverpool, Everton, Wigan Athletic, Bolton Wanderers, Radcliffe Borough, Bury, Accrington Stanley and Burnley before arriving at the final destination of Victoria Park.
The route length was chosen as 63 is exactly the number of years since Joe started his managerial career at Nelson FC in 1951.
The team of walkers were also joined by a number of guests along the way, including ex-Everton player Paul Lodge, ex-Bolton Wanderers ace Tony Kelly, ex-Burnley star Jamie Hoyland, Jake Berry MP, Accrington Stanley legend Paul Mullin and Nelson FC's own Harry Manning.
Nelson Chief Executive Adam Keizer was one of those who took part in the walk, and paid tribute to those who got involved.
"It's been a fantastic team effort to complete the walk", he said.
"A big thanks goes to everyone who has taken part or has supported along the way. We're hoping this will kick start our bid to raise enough money to build The Joe Fagan Stand and pay tribute to a true football legend.
"Joe Fagan is a massive part of Nelson FC history and heritage, having started his managerial career here, so we're keen to do Joe and his family proud. He deserves to be recognised and celebrated for what his achieved, what he gave to the game and the example he gives to us all.
"He was a true gentleman of football, so what better way than to build a stand in his name.
"We've a long way to go to hit our £25,000 target and will be following up the walk with a number of other fundraisers, starting with the Joe Fagan Dinner on Wednesday where we will have Liverpool FC legend Alan Kennedy as guest speaker.
"It's a big challenge for a club of our size to raise this kind of money but we've had some fantastic support from ex Liverpool players, supporters and a number of other ex footballers keen to support our campaign to honour Joe, and hopefully we can get more people involved over the coming months".
The walkers are pictured above at Nelson on Saturday afternoon at the end of their walk.
Joe Fagan Walk Completed
Mon 15th December 2014 | Nelson
By Ian Templeman
Nelson's first major fundraiser towards raising money for the new Joe Fagan Stand at Victoria Park was completed on Saturday afternoon.
The event involved 12 supporters from Nelson and Liverpool FC undertaking a 63 mile sponsored walk that started at Anfield at 7 pm on Friday evening and ended at Nelson at around 3 pm on Saturday.
The walk was planned after officials and supporters at Nelson decided that they wanted to celebrate the life and memory of former Liverpool manager Joe Fagan, who took his first steps in management at Nelson, managing the Admirals between 1951 and 1953.
The decision was taken to build a new stand at the club house end of Victoria Park and rename it the Joe Fagan Stand.
A dedicated team of 12 walkers completed a 63 mile walk that took in nine football clubs along the way including Liverpool, Everton, Wigan Athletic, Bolton Wanderers, Radcliffe Borough, Bury, Accrington Stanley and Burnley before arriving at the final destination of Victoria Park.
The route length was chosen as 63 is exactly the number of years since Joe started his managerial career at Nelson FC in 1951.
The team of walkers were also joined by a number of guests along the way, including ex-Everton player Paul Lodge, ex-Bolton Wanderers ace Tony Kelly, ex-Burnley star Jamie Hoyland, Jake Berry MP, Accrington Stanley legend Paul Mullin and Nelson FC's own Harry Manning.
Nelson Chief Executive Adam Keizer was one of those who took part in the walk, and paid tribute to those who got involved.
"It's been a fantastic team effort to complete the walk", he said.
"A big thanks goes to everyone who has taken part or has supported along the way. We're hoping this will kick start our bid to raise enough money to build The Joe Fagan Stand and pay tribute to a true football legend.
"Joe Fagan is a massive part of Nelson FC history and heritage, having started his managerial career here, so we're keen to do Joe and his family proud. He deserves to be recognised and celebrated for what his achieved, what he gave to the game and the example he gives to us all.
"He was a true gentleman of football, so what better way than to build a stand in his name.
"We've a long way to go to hit our £25,000 target and will be following up the walk with a number of other fundraisers, starting with the Joe Fagan Dinner on Wednesday where we will have Liverpool FC legend Alan Kennedy as guest speaker.
"It's a big challenge for a club of our size to raise this kind of money but we've had some fantastic support from ex Liverpool players, supporters and a number of other ex footballers keen to support our campaign to honour Joe, and hopefully we can get more people involved over the coming months".
The walkers are pictured above at Nelson on Saturday afternoon at the end of their walk.
