Teenager donates money to Silsden Amateur Football Club (From Craven Herald)

Teenager donates money to Silsden Amateur Football Club

9:00am Friday 18th January 2013 in News

A Silsden boy is giving half the proceeds of his benefit concert to buy life-saving equipment for fellow soccer players.

South Craven School student Oliver Simeone has donated £600 to Silsden Amateur Football Club to buy a defibrillator for use by teams at Silsden Sports Club.

This represents half the money raised by club members and local musicians just before Christmas with a rock concert.

They wanted to help cover the costs incurred by 17-year-old Oliver’s family after he broke his leg while playing with Silsden’s under-16s team in a soccer tournament in Spain last summer.

Oliver’s family initially had to pay the costs of the operation in Spain, receiving the money back through their insurance seven months later, and had to take days off work for Oliver’s follow-up treatment.

Club chairman Sean McNulty, who was on the club's trip to Spain, thanked Oliver for his “magnificent” gesture.

He said: “It was very stressful in Spain and Ollie and his family had a lot to overcome. Ollie’s offer to help others is fantastic. He’s a great lad and all at the club wish him well with his future career.”

Silsden AFC’s supporters group will make up the balance of £100 to buy the defibrillator.