A non-league football loving eight year old whose father died recently was given an “awesome” surprise at being made mascot for an East Thurrock United match last Saturday.
Albie Butcher, a pupil at Corringham Primary School from Stanford-le-Hope, would often be taken to non league games with his father Neil Butcher, before Neil unexpectedly passed away on 10 February aged 47, after contracting sepsis.
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Having received counselling at school since Neils death, it was the idea of Mrs Lawrence and Mrs Webster to invite Albie along with the school football team on the premise of watching the East Thurrock v Staines Ryman premier match before surprising Albie by revealing he was to be the mascot.
Albie a goalkeeper for Averley under nines was then given the referee’s silver coin by match official Rick Bloy and had his picture taken with East Thurrock keeper Lukas Lidakevicius and described the day as “awesome!”
Albie said “Me and my dad and my brother used to watch lower league football. We followed Ebbsfleet, but hadn’t been to a game in a while as my daddy was poorly”.
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“I was really amazed because me and my dad loved football and spent all weekends watching and talking about it. We stayed and watched the whole game and I really enjoyed it”
His mother Lisa Humphrys said the referee’s coin had taken pride of place on his dressing table and that Albie was already looking forward to attending the next East Thurrock match, when the team play Grays on Easter Monday.
She added :”Non-League is in his blood, I suppose to another child it wouldn’t mean much, but to him it means as much as to go and watch a Premier League game.. Saturday was really special to Albie because football was special to him and his dad.”
Story via thttp://www.theenquirer.co.uk/wp-content/themes/twentyfourteen/flip/thurrock-24-03-16/#32
We send our very best to Albiee and his family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Grassroots.
