Young Saints out to support Andy

SOUTHAM United’s under-eight team are heading up a fundraising campaign for their popular manager Andy Latham, who is recovering from a life-threatening condition that has left him paralysed down one side and unable to speak.

Following a brain haemorrhage last August, Latham underwent emergency surgery lasting 7 1/2 hours, after which he remained in a coma for 39 days.

Last Sunday, the young Saints undertook a mud run to raise funds to help with the cost of alterations and equipment to enable him to return to his family home.

The club had promised to add the proceeds from last Saturday’s first team match against Leicester Road, but this was postponed after heavy overnight rain left the Banbury Road pitch waterlogged. They will now donate the takings from Thursday's encounter with Studley.

Saints still have five matches to play before the end of the season, which is scheduled for Saturday, 30th April.

Last week, the Midland Football League announced that, in view of the number of postponements caused by the wet weather, the season would be extended by a week, only to rescind the decision 24 hours later.

However, individual clubs can still request outstanding fixtures to be moved into May and Saints will play Pilkington XXX on the 3rd and have asked for the re-arranged Leicester Road match to take place on the 5th, meaning that they will finish the season with two home fixtures as they seek to avoid relegation.

Anyone wanting to donate to the Andy Latham Fund can do so at https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/sharon-cooper-1