TOMMY SAMPSON BENEFIT NIGHT: Let's raise funds for Tommy

HUNDREDS of Kent football personalities will be in Rainham on Saturday evening to raise funds for highly-respected manager Tommy Sampson, writes Stephen McCartney.

Footballing friends of Sampson, 53, have rallied around and will stage the fundraising event at The Green Lion Pub, High Street, Rainham, Kent from 8pm.

Marc Seager and Simon Halsey (Whitstable Town); Keith McMahon (Thamesmead Town) and former VCD Athletic boss Martin Ford have been busy organising the event.

Well-wishers can expect to see Sampson, who lead Deal Town to Wembley glory in the FA Vase Final back in 2000, at the event, as he fights back from the stroke that he suffered on 5^th December 2007.

“It promises to be a great night, made even more special by the fact that Tommy himself will be present on the night,” Seager told www.kentishfootball.co.uk this morning.

“It’s easy to forget how much a sudden illness can hit a person and their family so hard financially and Saturday gives friends and foes the chance to help and support this great character of football.

“Non League football is a close family and it’s at times like these that this family always pulls together to help one of it’s own.

“Although Saturday is a fund raiser it’s not just about the money. It’s also a great chance for friends, managers, team mates old and new the opportunity to be in each others company again which for some would’ve been a long time apart.”

Simon Halsey, who assists Seager at Ryman League Division One South outfit Whitstable Town, is the landlord of The Green Lion public house in Rainham.

And Seager said: “A big thank you to my assistant and good friend Simon Halsey for allowing us to use his premises at The Green Lion and Thai Restaurant in Rainham to stage this special night.

“Also a very big thank you to co-organisers Keith McMahon and Martin Ford for all their hard work and efforts and thank you to everyone who has and is supporting this great evening.”

Tickets priced at £10 are available on the door for the event that kick’s off at 8pm.

“An auction and raffle is also taking place to help raise as much money as we can on what promises to be an exciting evening,” added Seager.

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be running with this article all week. Players, managers and supporters of Kent football clubs can send us their messages of support to Tommy by clicking on the CONTACT US button. Please write “Tommy Sampson” in the subject field, leaving your name, message and which club(s) your associated with.



BENEFIT NIGHT:  Tommy Sampson (centre) is flanked by Marc Seager (black shirt) and John Suter before Horsham YMCA played Whitstable Town last season.  Sampson was managing Sussex County League outfit Redhill before he suffered his stroke last December.
Photograph courtesy of www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk