Playing against a former club where you spent seven years and contributed to two promotions would be an emotional occasion under normal circumstances.
But it will be doubly so when Jack Bradshaw faces Royston Town, who he helped climb from the Spartan South Midlands League to the Southern Premier, tomorrow.
Bradshaw, who now plays for Biggleswade Town, has chosen the game as a special fundraising day towards his efforts to raise £10k for Alzheimer's Research UK and the Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Revolution.
It’s a cause close to the heart of the 29-year-old, who started out at Stevenage and can also name St Neots Town, St Ives Town and Soham Town Rangers among his former clubs.
His grandmother developed Alzheimer’s aged just 48 and died at 65, while his mum was diagnosed at the same age six years ago and is now living in a care home.
Bradshaw himself has a 50 per cent chance of inheriting the gene, which would mean he would develop the condition at around the same age.
“Biggleswade let me choose a game, and when I looked at the fixtures, Royston was a no-brainer,” he said. “I really enjoyed my time there and still know a lot of the fans and committee very well.
“I was at Royston when what me and my family are going through all started, and they really helped me through some tough times, so it seemed fitting to choose this game.
“Royston also helped me enjoy my football again, which I’d stopped doing after leaving Stevenage, and I only left because I felt it was time for a new chapter, but I was glad to help them build some success.”
Tomorrow’s game will see bucket collections and a raffle contribute to Bradshaw’s total (of which £8k has already been raised), and he’s running the London Marathon in April - but it’s about raising awareness as well as funds.
“It’s a stigma that only old people suffer from Alzheimer’s and there’s nothing to worry about when you’re young, but nobody is safe,” he added. “I didn’t understand what was happening when it happened to my nan, but it sunk in when my mum fell ill.
Royston Crow
