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Grimsby Town reflect on a week of hurt and togetherness

While the enthralling football entertained fans at Blundell Park on Saturday, Grimsby Town’s clash with Notts County was also an important moment to remember two fallen members of the Mariners community.

Talented youth player Cameron Walsh, 16, and his father Dave, 40, passed away on Saturday January 6, in a tragedy that has deeply affected the club, and this was the first opportunity for many of those affected by their passing to come together and show their support for one another.

The fans of both clubs stood and applauded before the start of the game and in the 16th and 40th minutes (to reflect the ages of son and father), in a poignant tribute to two lives that were taken far too soon. It was a reminder of the role football can serve in bringing communities closer together and providing comfort in difficult times.

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That the subsequent match unfolded in the way it did drew out many emotions in itself. Afterwards, Town head coach David Artell said he hoped that the events of the afternoon would have offered some comfort to the Walsh family.

“Both sets of fans were a credit to themselves and I hope that the family have got some comfort in how well Cameron and Dave were thought of, because it was quite clear,” he said. “You don’t get that outpouring of support without people thinking highly of you.

“Shaun [Pearson] and I went round to the memorial garden before the game and had a look. Notts County had brought some flowers, and the first thing their manager said to us was to say sorry for our loss as a football club, which was fantastic from them.

“Things will still be extremely raw for the family, and some of those emotions will never go away, but I hope at least that for an hour and a half of football we’ve provided some comfort to them.”

Harry Clifton, who like Cameron is a local lad, has seen those he is closest to at the club hurting, but he has also seen the strength of a community that rallied around to show its support. The Town midfielder passed on his condolences to the family and the members of the youth team who were close to Cameron.

He said: “It’s been a difficult week for the staff and the youth team, but they’ve shown loads of strength this week, which has been inspiring going through such difficult times. I’ve seen the fundraiser going around – and we’re a great club for things like that when something happens to one of our own. I can’t imagine what the family are going through, and we’ve all tried to contribute, however we can to help.

“I’ve seen staff that I’m close to at the club hurting and I feel that as well because I likely know a lot of people who knew Cameron and Dave. The club as a whole has been inspiring at this time with the way everyone has come together, and I want to send my biggest condolences to the Walsh family.”

A fundraising appeal has now raised more than £50,000 in donations to the Walsh family. The appeal is on the GoFundMe site.

Original story at https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/

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