18 October 2004 00:00 Central Networks Engineers score for charity in memory of work colleague and friend

Central Networks engineers have raised nearly £2,000 in a charity football match dedicated to the memory of work colleague Dave Betts, who was killed in a motorbike accident last year.

Dave’s friends and colleagues took on a team from X-based Walgrave Contracting Services, raising £900 through raffles and donations. The figure will be doubled with match funding from E.ON UK, Central Networks’ parent company, and will be divided between the General *** Cancer Unit at Leicester’s Glenfield Hospital and children’s charity Wish Upon a Star, as requested by Dave’s partner Helen.

The teams went head to head at Ibstock Welfare FC, with the Central Networks engineers coming out victorious in a 7-3 thriller.

Project Delivery Manager Alan Branson and Darren Woolley and Restoration Craftsman Phil Steel organised the match.

Alan said: “Twenty players from each side showcased their footie skills on the night and a crowd of more than 100 people cheered them on. It was a good night despite being a bit chilly and raising all that money made it worthwhile.”

This is the second year that Dave’s friends and colleagues have raised money for both local charities.

Alan said: “Everyone had great fun on the night and we’d like to say a big thank you to the Ibstock Welfare Football Club for donating its facilities and supporting the game.”

Ends

Notes to editors:
•Central Networks is the new name for Midlands Electricity and East Midlands Electricity. The company brings power to 4.8 million customers across the East and West Midlands through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables and via almost 97,000 substations;
•Central Networks covers an area from the Peak District in the north to parts of Bristol in the south, and from the Welsh Borders to the Lincolnshire Coast.

For further information contact:
Rebecca Middleton on 024 7642 5779
Out of hours, call 024 7642 4000 and ask for the duty press officer