Tom Benney Testimonial
27/12/11 09:48 Filed in: Fundraising | 2011
Christmas Bank Holiday Tuesday saw St Agnes AFC host the Tom Benney Testimonial at Enys Parc. The match was held to mark the early end of Tom Benney's playing career at 29 years owing to a heart condition.
The charity fixture between Benney's Boys and Kimmo's Marauders was very well supported with over 30 players intent on playing and marking the occasion. The squads included players old and new with ages ranging from 16-60 years and also contained most of the original St Agnes AFC Combination League Winning side of 2004, which Tom played such a big part in. The match was an entertaining evenly contested affair well officiated by Alan Hoon, Ken Keemer and Paul Minns who had given up their afternoon freely to support the event. The two keepers Paul Luke and Dan Carveth excelled throughout the fixture and Kimmo's Marauders were well marshalled in defence by Scott Jones and Phil Kellow. The best chances for Kimmo's Marauders fell to Justin Andrew, but was well saved by Paul Luke, with Dan Carveth in goal for Kimmo's Marauders thwarting great efforts by Tom Benney and Danny Osborne.
Throughout the fixture Tom Benney was well watched by his 'wing man’ dad Clive Benney who had donned boots for the occasion. The winning goal just before half time was scored by Martin Bennett who drilled the ball into the bottom corner past Dan Carveth leaving the final score Benney's Boys 1 Kimmo's Marauders 0. The fixture was very well supported by players and spectators and a collection, raffle and mini-auction raised £650 for the Willow Foundation: a charity founded by ex Arsenal/Scotland keeper Bob Wilson in memory of his daughter which provides special days for seriously ill young adults. St Agnes 1st Team Manager Martyn Kimmins commented, "I would like to thank everyone who supported the Tom Benney Testimonial in every way it was a fitting tribute to Tom for his footballing prowess, his loyalty to St Agnes AFC and to me as a manager."
Photo's attached of teams and officials before the fixture and 'managers' Tom Benney and Martyn Kimmins with Tom's dad Clive Benney before the fixture.
