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A silent auction held alongside a special football tournament has helped raise more than £8,000 for the family of a popular 47-year-old goalkeeper who passed away after testing positive for covid.
More than 80 players from the Trinity, Rozel Rovers and Jersey Scottish FC, for which father-of-three James Keating previously played, joined the competitive event at Springfield on Sunday.
Ahead of the kick-off, the players gathered in the middle of the pitch for a minutes' silence, all donning blue shirts as a nod to Mr Keating’s favourite football club, Everton, before releasing blue balloons.
Video: The players paying tribute to Mr Keating.
The game was organised by representatives from the three clubs as a way for the local football community to come together in Mr Keating’s memory, while also raising funds for his family.
James Scott, the Manager of the Parishes of Jersey Football Club, who played with Mr Keating in the Jersey Scottish over-35s team and had known him for many years, helped organise the event.
“He had a big heart and was very passionate when he played football,” Mr Scott said last month. “He was well known within the football community. It’s good that we have come together like this.”
We are pleased to announce that our silent auction raised £8,850 for the Keating family????
— JS (@JamesScottJS) August 22, 2021
Over 200 bids were submitted in total and all successful winners have been contacted.
Please come down to Springfield later today to watch us have a kick about in memory of Keats ⚽️???? pic.twitter.com/m9wbefarlR
Buckets were circulated in the stands during the ‘Robin Round’ tournament and tickets were available for a raffle. All participating players were also asked to donate £20 for Mr Keating’s family.
A silent auction was also organised with 11 items of football memorabilia ranging including a variety of signed shirts.
200 bids were submitted in the auction, which raised a total of £8,850 for Mr Keating’s family.
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