A FAMILY from Pembrokeshire has presented a cheque to the Swansea City AFC Foundation from the George Barrah Trust Fund.
The late George Barrah’s daughter, Jackie Gilderdale & grand daughter, Madison Owen, were invited as guests to the Liberty Stadium on Monday, May 8, 2023, to present a cheque for £550 to the Foundation.
George spent many years running the Swansea City Football School of Excellence in Pembrokeshire and many young people headed to Swansea including Joe Allen via George.
Jackie and Madison were taken to the players tunnel where they met Joe and presented him with the cheque. Jackie said: “My Dads link with Joe goes back to when Joe was playing mini football locally in Pembrokeshire. He was a very small boy back then, but had excellent technical skills for a youngster and soon gained the nickname from my Dad, of Mighty Joe. Being at Swansea on Monday brought back so many wonderful memories.”
In 1999 George had his testimonial football match at Camrose Football Club, where over 250 young people came to play in tournaments, followed by a game between Pembrokeshire Select XI v Swansea City Select XI who were jointly captained by former Swansea City & Wales International Jeremy Charles, (son of Mel Charles and nephew of John Charles) and also by Lyndon Jones, the then Head of the Foundation. Although the star of the show that day was Cyril the Swan.
Jackie said: “They signed a keepsake shirt for us back then and on Monday Joe added his signature to it too. My son wanted to ensure my Dad remained a Senior Jack due to all his involvement with the Club, even when he became poorly and Joe signed my Dads very last season ticket.
“As said to mighty Joe, no matter who comes through the foundation, he will always be our Welsh Pirlo and my Dad was very proud of his achievement in football”.
Joe was unable to play in Monday’s game but Jackie and Madison enjoyed seeing the Swans earn a 3-2 win over West Brom in their finakl game of the season.
The George Barrah Trust Fund will be kept open and we hope to raise further monies over the coming months and years, which will again will be distributed between the two charities – Alzheimer’s Society & the Swansea City AFC Foundation.
