Sky Sports' Johnny Phillips: Football’s more than just a game

It is hard to put into words the bravery shown by Suzy Evans when she stood up in the huge function room at the Copthorne Hotel, in Dudley, last week, and addressed an audience packed with some of the biggest football stars in the region.

Some of the finest players ever to grace West Midlands football came together help raise funds for the Smile For Joel charity with Suzy Evans and her son Owen Richards, centre row. Back row, from left, John Richards, Lee Naylor, Wayne Thomas, Craig Shakespeare, Gordon Cowans, Colin Taylor, Tony Morley, George Berry, Don Goodman, Gary Pierce, Bob Taylor and host Steve Saul. Middle row, from left, Steve Daley, Geoff Palmer, Kenny Hibbitt, Suzy Evans, Colin Brazier, Owen Richards, Geoff Horsfield, Micky Fudge, Phil Parkes, Willie Carr, Paul Butler, Gary Shaw. Front, from left, Garry Pendrey, Brian Little, Neil Rioch, Tony Want, Malcolm Page, Johnny Giles, Tony Brown, Ally Robertson, Graham Williams. The evening raised more than £10,000 for the cause.

Suzy lost her dad Pat, her brother Ade and her son Joel during the Tunisian terror attacks of 2015. The three men had gone out on a holiday with Suzy’s other son Owen, the only survivor of the attack. Owen, who was just 16 years old when he witnessed the death of his close family members, was there beside his mother in front of the huge audience, showing incredible strength too.

Joel was a Walsall fan and an aspiring football referee. The tragic story touched the hearts of everyone. The photograph of the four men stood outside Wembley ahead of attending a match, taken before the holiday, made the news across the country. Suzy was addressing the Dining With Legends event last Thursday, the latest in a range of fundraisers for the charity Smile For Joel, set up in memory of the three men.

More than 30 former football stars from the region were in attendance, including the likes of Johnny Giles, John Richards, Gordon Cowans, Tony Brown, Kenny Hibbitt and Geoff Horsfield among many others.

The night was put on by the expert sporting events organiser Steve Saul, who did an incredible job bringing all the names together.

As Saul introduced each player with a list of achievements in the game, there were cheers from the tables packed with Albion, Villa, Wolves, Blues and Walsall supporters. Special mention must go to former Saddlers man Wayne Thomas, who was introduced by compere Saul as: “The only player in the room not to have his own Wikipedia page.”

He saw the funny side.

There were some brilliant turns on stage from two great characters after the guests had enjoyed their meal. Former Wolves, Huddersfield and Burnley winger Steve Kindon, who is one of the most amusing and accomplished after dinner speakers in the country, delivered a brilliant act as usual. This was followed up by the superb comedian Gary Marshall, a firm favourite on the circuit. Both men had travelled a long way to support the event.

Suzy spoke of how proud she was that so many people had come along to remember her family members and raise money for Smile For Joel.

“Not every family has the love and support we have had from our family and friends,” she said. “Our plan is to make smiles for Joel.

“And it is with a heavy heart that I think just how much my dad and brother would have loved this type of event too.”

There were plenty of familiar faces at the tables, with many of the supporters in attendance regularly attending these fundraising events across the region. Special mention should be given to several members of Viking Wolves supporters’ club, who travelled over from Bergen, in Norway. Football seems to bring them all together.

The ex-players were the ones everyone wanted to chat to at each table, and former Wolves striker Richards spoke of the warmth in the room on a night where friendships were renewed.

“It’s lovely to get together and chat with the lads we played with and against,” he said. “When we played, the Midlands was a powerhouse of football in this country.

“It would be nice to see that back again. It’s nice reminiscing with these lads. I’ve just told Ally Robertson that I’ve still got one of his studs in the back of my leg from when he went down my calf.

“But they’re great lads, and Smile For Joel is a great cause which brings us together. It’s a fantastic charity and that is what we must keep sight of.”

Smile For Joel was given official charity status a year ago, having already raised more than £100,000.

Suzy explained the causes they are hoping to support: “After losing three very precious family members in 2015, during the Tunisian terror attacks, our supportive and loyal family will never be the same,” she explained. “We are shattered, broken and every day is a colossal struggle for not having them there with us.

“To go from a family of six to three is unbearable pain and has left an emptiness that we know will never go away. In the midst of this heartache I am determined to stand strong for my remaining family and, like any mom would, I want to strive to make Owen’s life the best I can, especially as he was the sole survivor in my family on that fateful day.

“My son and I decided we wanted to make a difference, so Smile For Joel was set up as a fundraising charity to support and help broken families who are victims of traumatic bereavement through homicide.

“We give the support that is desperately needed, directly to families. This support is very diverse, from time out for family breaks, special counselling or that special gift to a family to show them someone does care.”

With the help of raffles and auctions, the night brought in more than £10,000 for the charity. You can support it too by donating at their website smileforjoel.com