by Alan Quick
The sudden death of a young football player, Nick Cole, shocked his team-mates and the community last October.
Nick, aged 26, was playing in the home match against his childhood football team of Thorverton, when he left the pitch, complaining of feeling ill.
After he collapsed he was airlifted to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital by a Devon Air Ambulance but despite the efforts of paramedics, he failed to recover.
The match was abandoned after around 80 minutes.
It was concluded that he had died of a heart attack.
Mr Cole worked for Parkwood Leisure at the Riverside Leisure Centre in Exeter.
Devon and Exeter Football League chairman Roger Spray said following the news that Nick had died: "I’m very, very shocked. On behalf of the club I send our sincere condolences to his family.”
Bow chairman Doug Coles was at the match and said the player reported breathing difficulties two minutes before the half-time whistle and came off at half-time, after which he began to feel ill.
Mr Coles said that the death of the young player, who he had coached for the past two years, was “tragic beyond words.”
Of Mr Cole, he said: “You couldn’t have met a nicer gentleman.”
Now his former team-mates and friends are organising a fundraiser in aid of the British Heart Foundation in Nick’s memory.
The football match, at the Bow Village Hall field, will kick off at 2.30pm and during the afternoon there will also be a bar, refreshments and barbecue.
During the evening, from 8pm to midnight, there will be a dance in Bow Village Hall with music by the band “Fairplay”.
Tickets are priced at £10 in advance from Bow AAC members and on the door, priced at £12.