POPPY TEARE SPIRIT OF FOOTBALL AWARD

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The Poppy Teare Spirit of Football Award started in 2013 after a Whitewebbs Player lost both his Mum and Sister Poppy, to cancer in the space of 20 months.  Poppy was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 11 and while she battled her own illness their mum sadly passed away.  Poppy showed incredible courage and bravery while trying to battle the cancer in her jaw.  She had a operation to remove part of her jaw and replaced it with bone taken from her fibula but sadly passed away at the age of 12.  Such was her spirit that, despite her own suffering, she wanted to live life to the full and was always wanting to help others.  Although she barely was able to walk Poppy wanted to do the Race for life and asked that the money raised was donated to a Children’s Cancer Charity.

The Whitewebbs team wanted to make a tribute to the brave sister of one of their players and came up with the Poppy Teare Spirit of Football Award in her memory.  Every season each manager/coach nominates one of the players who has done something in the true spirit of the game. The award is not necessarily for the best player or highest goal scorer but for something above and beyond. It is for the player that turns up every week with a smile on their face but who shows an outstanding act of sportsmanship or simply helps the coaches each week collect the cones or carry the equipment.  The player who shows kindness or helps a fellow team mate, or who has overcome difficulties to play the sport they love.

In other words – someone special who has shown courage, determination or an outstanding attitude just like Poppy.