Health and safety firm’s donation scores for disabled Swindon Town fan

Generous-hearted health and safety company, Origin, has donated the match ball from a winning Swindon Town game to one of the club’s biggest fans, who is disabled.

Origin had sponsored the match ball for a game against Walsall, when the Robins won 5-0. Managing Director of Origin, Chris Haynes, wanted to donate the ball to a supporter and liaised with the club over who should be the lucky recipient.

Now the ball has been handed to Dave Foster, 49, who has cerebral palsy. Dave, who hails from Swindon but who now lives in Nottingham, has supported the team since his dad took him to games as a child. Even having moved away, he still gets to games as often as he can.

Chris said: “I sponsored the match ball for Swindon Town’s 5-0 win back in February, which was an incredible game to be involved with. We were presented the signed match ball after the game by man of the match Ricky Aguiar, but wanted to pass it on to a dyed-in-the-wool fan. So, we liaised with Caroline Lane, the club’s Disability Liaison Officer, and she suggested Dave.”

Dave’s partner, Julie Bradshaw, said: “Dave has been a Swindon Town fan for 40 years. His dad would take him to every home match and some away games also, and would carry him up to the north stand. Dave fell in love with the Town and has experienced lots of highs and lows but will always love Swindon. To be chosen to receive the match ball is amazing and such an honour.”

After donating the ball to Dave at half time of the Robin’s 1-0 win against Newport, Chris said “Dave is an inspiration with such fantastic commitment to Swindon, I am very grateful to Julie, Caroline and the club for facilitating such a special moment.”

Origin Health & Safety Ltd is a consultancy working with a wide range of small to medium sized businesses across Swindon and the surrounding areas, including those in construction, manufacturing and office-based. For more information, visit https://www.originhs.co.uk/.