. with a 11.00am kick off.thYeovil Town’s Huish Park top training pitch will play host to a benefit game for former local footballer Barry Bisgrove this Sunday May 10
Barry played local football for both Merriott FC and Crewkerne Football Club and was considered to be one of the best prospects to have emerged from the Crewkerne football scene.
Sadly Barry has contracted Alzheimer’s Disease and now resides in a Castle Cary Nursing home but his love of football remains.
There won’t be many local football followers who won’t remember Barry’s exploits and only missing his friends and family stopped Barry joining Bristol City.
Yeovil Town too had their eye on Barry and the then manager Mike Hughes also tried to sign Barry during his heyday.
Bizzy, as he is affectionately known, scored over 800 goals for Merriott and Crewkerne Town and along with his Merriott strike partner Andy Holt scored 155 in a season for Merriott.
The match, from which all proceeds will go to the Alzheimer’s Society, is hoped to be an annual event.
Paul Higgins, chairman at Crewkerne Town Football Club, said: "Barry is a really long-standing friend of mine and it’s going to be a very poignant occasion because we’re raising money for the Alzheimer’s Society, the disease which he is suffering from.
"We’d like to think that we can raise a few thousand pounds for a very worthy cause. Barry is a legend of the local game and players from both teams are desperate to play because of how well regarded he is.
"It’s been written into the rules that a Bisgrove has to present the trophy. We’re hoping that Barry will be able to make it, so fingers crossed that he can be present."
Yeovil Town have made the pitch available at no charge and for those of you who are hungry or thirsty the usual Sunday Carvery service will be operating in the Alex Stock lounge and a bar will also be open for drinks after the match.
So come on all you local football followers come along and support Barry and the Alzheimer’s Society in what will be a morning of nostalgia I’m sure.
