Charity football match sponsorship in memory of Paul
Date 24 October 2024
Care Connection Partners is sponsoring an annual football match in memory of someone very close to us.
Paul Jones, husband of our Recruitment and Compliance Manager Heather for 25 years, died just over three years ago after suffering a cardiac arrest whilst watching his beloved Coventry City with his son Nathan.
Paul, 61, was rushed to hospital, where he was placed on life support. He died eight days later, surrounded by his family.
Coventry City held a minute’s applause in tribute to Paul, and the family held his wake at the club’s Coventry Building Society Stadium.
Along with being a Coventry City season ticket holder, Paul was also heavily involved in the running of Mount Nod JFC, a Coventry-based youth mixed football club where Nathan played as goalkeeper.
Paul and Heather Jones.
Following his death, Mount Nod organised what has now become an annual charity match in memory of Paul.
His family attend the matches, between a team of managers and coaches and parents and children, each year.
As a token of appreciation, Care Connection Partners have paid for the two kits, which will be used each year. One of them is adorned with ‘Rex’ – Paul’s nickname he was widely known by.
Heather said: “Paul was really heavily involved with Mount Nod, where he went with Nathan.
“It’s a brilliant local football club and he used to love it there. He used to put the goals out and run the line for them.
“After Paul died, they approached me and said they’d like to do a charity match for him, because he meant so much to them.
“It was a great day out. They had a trophy in Paul’s name, which Nathan gave out. They made such a fuss of Nathan too.
“They now do it every year, which is absolutely lovely, and this year it raised money for a local foodbank.
“The support from Care Connection Partners is brilliant.”
Darren Lines, Club Secretary at Mount Nod, said: “Rex was held in really high esteem, as he was always first to arrive to help put the goals up. He would then show his support throughout the game before helping to dismantle the goals and pack all the equipment away at the end.
“It was a massive shock when Paul passed away so tragically, not just to the team but the club as a whole.
“The memorial match is a fitting tribute to someone who had given so much support to our club.
“Our only real issue was trying to source some kits for the two opposing teams to play in because, as a small community club, funds are low.
“It was at this point that Care Connection Partners heard of our dilemma and made the very kind offer to pay for two full kits for our teams to play in. This means we won’t have to worry about it for years to come.
“I understand that this day will always be a bitter-sweet occasion for the Jones family, but I sincerely hope they appreciate that we do this each season to remember Paul, and that he will never be forgotten.”