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05

Aug 2023

Last Updated: 04/08/2023
Community
Community

Ladies' Day to boost Harrogate footballer's cancer treatment fund

by Vicky Carr

| 05 Aug, 2023
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railway

Two back-to-back football matches will be played at Harrogate Railway this weekend as part of a day of fundraising.

Ladies' Day will see the women's reserves play at noon on Sunday, followed by the first team facing Farsley Celtic at 2pm.

Entry will be free for spectators, with a barbecue, raffle and refreshments all on offer as part of the entertainment.

First team coach Rich Burns told the Stray Ferret:

"it's a celebration of ladies' football in the club and the region. We've gone from one football team to four in the space of two years.
"I've been there for 15 years and we've only had one senior ladies' team and various girls' teams. Since the Euros, where the Lionesses were successful, now the World Cup and the WSL, there's a real growth and demand for women's football in the region."


As well as first and reserve teams, Railway now has an under 18s ladies' side, offering teenagers the chance to learn, or continue learning a sport they have enjoyed at school.

Rich said it offers a natural pathway into the adult teams too.

And it is for one of the first team players that the day has been organised.

Dee Swales played for the club for around five years, before moving to Farsley Celtic. She returned two years ago, but last year was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Rich said:

"She has been undergoing significant treatment and dealt with the first part really well, but she has unfortunately developed a secondary cancer.
"The NHS doesn't fund the treatment she needs when it's for secondary cancer, so you have to raise funds yourself.
"She has been dong loads of stuff and fundraising, but the club really wanted to show our support for this as well."


Setting a target of £1,000, the club said any money raised that exceeds the amount Dee needs will be split between Macmillan and Cancer Research UK.

Harrogate Railway Football ClubHarrogate Railway Football Club on Station View, Starbeck, will host the event

Dee is also planning to join in the fun on the day – though will have more reason than most to play it safe. Rich said:

"She's a week away from being married. I think the biggest challenge is keeping her off the pitch, because [fiancee] Abi would absolutely kill us if she gets injured for the wedding!"


With women's football much more popular than ever before, Harrogate Railway are hoping for a big crowd at the event on Sunday.

Rich added:

"Everyone's aware of Rachel Daly and her ties to the region. She spent a small amount of time with Railway and when she came back from the US during the summers, she used to come to our training sessions.
"It has been really fantastic that the Lionesses have been offering discounted tickets to grassroots clubs.
"We've been able to support them a few times and we went to see them at Wembley.
"You don't get the same level of animosity you can get at the men's game and it does seem very family-friendly.
"Seeing 87,000 people in Wembley for a ladies' game was fantastic – it was a celebration of football."