Today, up at Farsley A.F.C’s Throstle Nest, a benefit game was played in aid of ex-Leeds United player Brendan Ormsby. A Leeds Legends XI, managed by Farsley’s current manager Neil Parsley took on a John Sheridan XI managed by ex-Leeds and Republic of Ireland stalwart John Sheridan.
Ormsby suffered a stroke in 2013 and was told that he would never walk again. The former Leeds captain battled to defy medical opinion and last summer completed a 10k race, since then he has battled towards further fitness. The team lists contained many former Leeds players and, indeed, managers alongside ex-England internationals with names such Nigel Martyn, Steve Hodge, Gary Kelly and Simon Grayson appearing for the Leeds Legends and Lee Duxbury, Gary Brabin, Phil Parkinson and Chris Waddle appearing for the John Sheridan XI.
When looking at games like this, the score is immaterial – it’s the turning out for the cause that’s the important. For those interested in the numbers, the eventual score was a fair 3-3 draw with Steve Nicholson, Clyde Wijnhard and Simon Grayson scoring for the Leeds Legends XI and Gray Brabin scoring two for the John Sheridan XI – the name of the other scorer passing me by.
picture kindly provided by RiotBadger™
