SPORTS EVENINGS HOSTED BY TERRY CONROY
Every year around the anniversary of Dan's death we start our fundraising season
off with a sports evening at Bignall-End Cricket Club. These have become very popular and have raised over £12,000 for Dan's memorial fund. We are indebted to ex Stoke City player Terry Conroy for all the work he does to make these evenings a success.
Friday March 13th 2020 - An evening with Ricardo Fuller
On the 13th of March we held our 5th annual Sports evening at Bignall-End cricket club; Our regular host and compare for the evening, ex Stoke City footballer Terry Conroy, was in attendance again and this year’s guest was another former Stoke City forward from more recent times – Ricardo Fuller.
Following the introductions, pie, peas and gravy were served to the audience before the entertainment started. Terry chatted to Ricardo about his time playing for the potters. He had many stories which had the audience laughing as he told them in his own unique style. There was an opportunity for questions from the audience at the end as well as the chance to have autographs and photographs taken with the 2 players.
We were very grateful to one of our supporters, Garry Proctor, who very kindly donated a brand-new TV as a raffle prize. Simon Grocott and Terry Conroy donated pictures and there was a signed Ricardo Fuller shirt which were all auctioned off. A total of £2,680 was raised from the event. The evening ended with a chorus of Ricardo’s Stoke song as he left the building.
​
Friday March 15th 2019 - An evening with Denis Smith & Mike Pejic
Our 4th Sports evening was with Terry Conroy, Denis Smith & Mike Pejic Some great stories from the good old days and it was nice to hear what Pej thinks about the modern game. Thanks to Robbie Benson & Jane from the Hitmix 107.5 for providing the PA and SCOBA for the signed picture which sold for £380.00. Thanks also to The Plough for the peas & Gravy, Wright’s for the pies & Audley CC for the use of their ovens. in total the evening raised just over £1,500.
Friday 6th of April 2018 - An evening with Gordon Banks
What a special night this was, To have Gordon Banks come along to our village cricket club and tell his stories from his time playing with Stoke - winning the world cup with England and that save against Pele from 1970. The people who were there to listen to him and meet the great man fully appreciated what a privilege it was. Thanks to excellent auction items and a sell out audience we raised £2,200 for Dan's memorial fund.
​
Saturday 19th March 2017 - An evening with Mark Stein
Mark Stein was our guest for the 2nd sports evening and proved to be a big hit with the younger fans. Chants of "Steino - Steino - Steino" rang out as he was introduced and he went to recall some of his goals for Stoke, most notably the 2 he scored against Manchester United in a league cup tie at the old Victoria ground. When all the money for the auction items and raffle was counted the night raised £2,800 for Dan's Heart screening fund.
Friday March 19th 2016 - An evening with Terry Conroy & Jimmy Greenoff
​
On the first anniversary of Dan's death we held a sports evening with Terry & Jimmy. It proved to be a huge success raising £3,300 on the night. They told many stories which people will not have heard before including how Jimmy came to be sold to United;
Terry amused everyone with his wit and funny recollections of when he first arrived in Stoke; He even tweeted the following day
saying how much he and Jimmy had enjoyed the night.
We would also like to thank John Ruggerio and the team at S.C.O.B.A (Stoke City Old Boys Association) for very generously donating a number of pictures which have been auctioned off to raise funds at the events.
