Wendron United and Falmouth Town to contest Kevin Williamson Memorial Shield

The teams will contest the inaugural Kevin Williamson Memorial Shield game, which will be played between the two sides on an annual basis in the teams’ first scheduled league meeting each season.

The shield will be played for in memory of Kevin, who died in February after collapsing whilst celebrating his team record an historic victory at home to Porthleven, as Jack Greenwood’s side booked their place in the Cornwall Senior Cup semi-finals for the first time.

Amidst the euphoria of the first team’s win, Kevin, aged 63, was taken ill at the Underlane ground.

A team of First Aiders were able to revive him using a defibrillator and he was taken to Treliske Hospital by Cornwall Air Ambulance, but the father-of-three passed away the next day.

READ MORE: Football club chairman dies after watching his team record historic victory

The match on Boxing Day will be a charity event to raise funds for the Cornwall Air Ambulance at the request of Kevin’s family, who will be attending the game.

Entrance fees will remain separate, but a collection for the charity will be made during half-time. The clubs are also expected to make their own donations.

The match will kick-off at the later time of 1pm, owing to Kevin’s family making the journey down to Cornwall and to avoid a clash with the nearby derby between Helston Athletic and Porthleven at 11am.

Wendron first-team boss Jack Greenwood said: “We’re hoping to raise as much money as possible for the air ambulance like we did at the Liskeard game earlier this year, and that’s the charity that Kevin’s family wanted us to raise money for.

“The most important thing is that it’s a well-run day. Hopefully there’s some good football but we raise lots of money and we start something that’s continued for a long period of time – the onus is on us to stay in the league!”

The idea for a charity match in Kevin’s memory was floated by Falmouth Town coach and former Wendron United boss Charlie Davis, who is a close friend of Greenwood.

“We went out for a drink months and months ago now and he said he’d been thinking about it, and I thought it was a great idea,” Greenwood said.

“He said he’d mention it to Simon Williamson [Kevin’s son] as well and he was fully on board with it.

“From our point of view, we’re really looking forward to playing Falmouth on Boxing Day anyway. This adds an extra element to it and the fact that they’re so well supported, we’re anticipating one of our biggest-ever crowds.

“It’s nice that we’re remembering Kevin in a different way.”

Former Wendron United club chairman, Kevin Williamson, who died in February

The two clubs have been working hard to promote the event, and part of a promotional message Charlie Davis wrote on Falmouth Town’s supporters’ Facebook page read: “Given that we love winning cups, and that I would hate to lose to my old team, it would be amazing if as many of you as possible could come and support on that day.

“I totally appreciate it is a time for family at Christmas, but hope the short trip to Wendron would be achievable for many of you.

“I know Wendron and Kevin’s family are both excited to have the F-Troop attend and it would be great to lift the first ever ‘Kevin Williamson Memorial Shield’ in front of you!”

Kevin's death prompted Falmouth Town to stage a fundraising evening in March, which raised money to fund a community defibrillator at their Bickland Park ground.

READ MORE: Evening with ex-Premier League stars raises money for defibrillator

The two clubs' ties go back further, with Davis having previously served as first-team boss at Wendron under Williamson, before being recruited by Falmouth manager Andrew Westgarth shortly after his Wendron side defeated Town in a Walter C Parson League Cup first-round tie in 2016.

Davis recommended Greenwood to fill his shoes at Wendron, and the incumbent boss at the Underlane spoke of the strong bond between the two clubs.

“Charlie and I are very good mates and we get on very well, and as a result have forged a good relationship with Westy [Westgarth] and with James [Miller, assistant boss at Falmouth] as well,” Greenwood said.

“Westy’s very supportive and always messages me to see how we got on and we talk quite a bit, and I’ve got a huge amount of respect for them and what they’ve done.

“But make no mistake, I’m desperate to beat them on Boxing Day!

“The link between the two clubs is very good. They’ve been fantastic with supporting us for this event. I know they’ve been on to their supporters, the F-Troop, and asked them to push it and support it the best they can, which is great for us – being slightly commercially minded about it, yes, you want to raise lots of money for charity but we also want to get good gate receipts and show off our facilities.”

Kevin did not play football at Underlane but took on almost every other role within the football section, managing numerous youth and adult teams. He was the assistant manager, working alongside Tony Kellow, when Wendron United first joined the Cornwall Combination League, in 1998.

He took on various clerical and ‘back room’ duties to ensure the smooth running of Wendron United – everything from running the line to washing the kit.

Kevin served on Wendron’s committee for several years and, in November 2007, was elected chairman – a position he held until his death.

In recent years, he raised thousands of pounds of grants and prizes from various community funds that have provided vital cash for ground improvements, like spectator accommodation, disabled access, solar panels and solar batteries.

Part of his enduring legacy at Wendron was achieved by the installation of the club’s new floodlights in September, a project that Kevin had begun himself.

• Follow live text coverage of the inaugural Kevin Williamson Memorial Shield game between Wendron United and Falmouth Town on the Packet website from 10am on Boxing Day. Coverage will begin at Kellaway Park with Helston Athletic v Porthleven, which kicks off at 11am, and will be immediately followed by the Wendron-Falmouth game.