Friends, families and footballers from across Fife will come together tomorrow to remember popular local player Ciaran Reilly – and raise funds for a mental health charity.
The special event and family fun day at Cupar’s Duffus Park will see players compete for the Ciaran Reilly Memorial Cup while fundraising for Back Onside.
Local teams, the Cupar community, Ciaran’s former amateur team-mates and family will take part in the memorial matches, which it’s hoped will become an annual event.
Dad-of-three Ciaran was just 29 when he tragically lost his life to suicide in December 2020, after struggling with his mental health and the impact of the Covid pandemic.
Friends describe Kinross Colts player Ciaran as ‘highly talented’ and ‘someone who could light up any dressing room’.
Debbie Reilly, Ciaran’s step-mum, has had constant support from Back Onside. And Debbie, Ciaran’s dad Kev and family are the driving force in bringing together Sunday’s event.
Talking to local blog CuparNow Debbie explains: “Despite mental health and suicide being more widely spoken about there is still a stigma attached to this illness.
‘His loss is felt every second of every day’
“A broken limb will elicit sympathy and understanding a broken mind rarely sees that level of care from others.
“We tragically understand the pain of mental health and suicide very acutely having lost our son aged only 29 years old late last year. He left behind three young children.
“His loss is felt every second of every day. Whilst we try to keep him ‘alive’ in the minds of his children, nothing can make up for the loss they and we have suffered as a family.”
The day also features football coaching, raffles, tombola, food stalls, face painting, a bouncy castle and family fun and games.
“Without Back Onside reaching out to us at the start who knows where we would have all been right now,” Debbie says.
“Kev and I hope to raise as much as we can so they can continue to help people who suffer from mental health before they feel they can’t go on.“
Sponsors
Specsavers in Cupar is sponsoring Back Onside’s football kits which will be worn on the day.
Lisa Service, store manager at Specsavers in Cupar, says: “We’re so pleased to have the opportunity to sponsor the football strips and support this fantastic and vital local charity.”
- The fun day takes place on Sunday May 1, 2022 and tickets are priced at £5, with all proceeds going to Back Onside.
