Generous Aston Villa and Chelsea fans use premiership positivity to raise funds for Banbury's hospice

Three football fans - two Aston Villa supporters and a Chelsea fan - have worked their premiership ambitions into fundraising for Katharine House Hospice.
David Feeley and James Radbourn with a big cheque for Katharine House HospiceDavid Feeley and James Radbourn with a big cheque for Katharine House Hospice
David Feeley and James Radbourn with a big cheque for Katharine House Hospice

Without knowing it, the three came up with donations totalling £300 for the Banbury hospice in memory of a number of friends and family who have been cared for there.

At the end of July, Villa fans were feeling the doom and gloom of facing relegation but supporters David Feeley and James Radburn - who met for the first time at the cheque handover last week - were hopeful and didn't give up hope. They were repaid handsomely for their positivity and look forward to another season of premiership action. And they have helped to boost funds at the hospice into the bargain.

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Completely independently of each other they decided to put a positive spin on the outcome of their decisive match and each pledged to make a donation of £100.

For Mr Feeley, it was a case of hoping Villa would not be relegated, but James turned his pledge into a wager with his Chelsea-supporting friend Nick. Whoever's team lost would pay up the £100. In the event Villa won so Nick handed over his £100 but by this time James was thoroughly committed and matched his friend's donation.

Mr Radburn said: “My Grandad was cared for here earlier this year so I wanted to support the hospice.”

Mr Feeley was meant to be climbing the Manitou Springs in Colorado this month to raise funds for the hospice but because of the pandemic the trip was cancelled. He chose Katharine House for his donation in memory of a friend's mother who was a volunteer and a patient at the hospice.

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Mr Feeley said: “I was looking pretty gloomy like the rest of the Villa fans and because of the travel bans, my trip was put on hold.

Making a private deal with himself, he decided that if Villa stayed up in the premiership he would donate £100 to Katharine House.

"I put it up on our Villa fans' Facebook page to try and encourage others to do the same," he said. "My friend Pete and his family always say how amazing they were to his Mum. They have helped so many local people and I want continue to support them in whatever way I can.”

Linda Hinds, from the Katharine House fundraising team, said: “We were delighted that our local Aston Villa fans chose to support Katharine House and that their team stayed in the league.

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"We couldn’t believe that these individual supporters, only days apart, donated the same amount of money for the same reason. We spoke to the team at Aston Villa as we thought they may want to hear about the positive impact the club had made on the hospice and they were delighted that their club has been spreading positivity in more ways than one.”

Megan Gardner, Media and Communications Officer at Aston Villa, said: “What amazing donations the three gentlemen have kindly given to your hospice. It is heart-warming to know that by Aston Villa staying in the Premier League a great cause has been supported.”