Coventry City

[NathanDRFC]

VSC Programme notes: Coventry City

A warm welcome to the fans of Coventry City today, in a match that for the last 4 seasons has been a Championship fixture. This game sees the return of Franck Moussa to the Rovers, who enjoyed a loan spell here a couple of years ago, and we will also see Sammy Clingan come up against his former club.

I’d like to write today about the work the VSC are trying to do in the Community to help some of our less fortunate fans. Today sees us welcome a little boy, Lewis Jeynes, and his family to watch the game. Lewis suffers from an unknown disease which means he spends his life in a wheelchair. His family are doing all they can to give Lewis a better life, but they also give their time to help other children suffering from illness. You can read more about his story online at http://www.lewisjeynes.co.uk/, and donate to the cause if you wish to do so. I’m sure you will join me in wishing Lewis, his brother Samuel, and his mum and dad a great day at the Keepmoat today. Hopefully this will be the first of many such visits brought about by the VSC offering the opportunity to other deserving people.

Some of you will be aware that one of the Rovers legends from the Conference years, Ian Duerden, is currently in the process of setting up a foundation for his son Oliver, who has an extremely rare genetic disorder. The VSC have invited Ian and his family to join us here for a match in the future and they have accepted this offer, and we will release further details of this closer to the date. On the day we will be looking to increase awareness of Oliver’s condition and raise some much needed funds for his foundation. I’m sure you will all agree this is an excellent cause and I know Ian will have your full support on the day.

We are also looking to set up a partnership with the Rovers official charity this season, Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, which should hopefully see some of the families there attend a Rovers match in the future.

That is just a brief outline of some of the things we are currently trying to do in increasing our work in the community, something we think the VSC may have slipped away from in recent years. We are essentially a Community Trust and it is important we are seen as this, rather than just as an extension of the Football Club. If you can think of anyone who might benefit from a great day out at the Rovers, or have any other ideas on how the VSC can increase our presence in the Community, then please feel free to email me at dave.burkitt@drfc-vsc.co.uk with your suggestions.

Finally, I’d just like to point out that we cannot do any of this without our members. If you have not already done so, please consider becoming a member of the VSC by visiting www.drfc-vsc.co.uk and clicking on the Join VSC link at the top. You will not only be becoming part of an organisation that is a significant shareholder in the club you support, you will also be helping us to serve the local community.

Many thanks for reading, and enjoy today’s game. Here’s hoping it brings another 3 points for Dean and the lads.

David Burkitt, VSC Community Officer