On Sunday 15th April, Rugby Town’s Butlin Road Ground played host to the Ian Crawley Charity Football match between two teams of his former non league footballing colleagues from Coventry and Warwickshire.

A side of former VS Rugby and Coventry Sporting Club players, managed by Alan Harkus were beaten by a team consisting of players who have played with or against Ian and managed by Ron Bradbury, the former VS Rugby manager.

One of Coventry’s sporting heroes, Ian Crawley aged 47, holds the unique Football Association record of scoring the winning and only goal in two finals at Wembley Stadium, in VS Rugby’s FA Vase 1983 victory and in the FA Trophy of 1989 for Telford United. Ian played 235 times for VS Rugby plus 33 as substitute and scored 122 goals and for Telford 32 goals in 94 appearances. Ian also played for Bedworth United, Nuneaton Borough, Kettering Town & Tamworth.

Ian was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in June 2006 and Pancreatic Cancer two months later for which he underwent surgery on 8th November.

The match was organised by Kevan Kane, the 42 year old General Manager of Technoset Ltd, Rugby, who played against Ian during his footballing career, which took in all the senior non league clubs from the area until he was forced to retire due to knee problems in 1995.

The day was a great success and proceeds from the game went towards Motor Neurone Disease and also to make life more comfortable for Ian.

Another charity game arranged between the Telford United’s 1989 FA Trophy winners & VS Rugby’s FA Vase winners, scheduled for 29 April at The Bucks Head, has been postponed by AFC Telford United. No new date has been offered so far.

A disco, arranged by Kevan Kane’s wife Debbie, has raised £450 and Kevan will be running the Flora London Marathon on April 22nd to support and raise funds for Ian, the Motor Neurone Disorder & The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London.