Garry has a ball on surprise 60th

Players and family turn out to mark football coach's big day

A FORMER Newbury football coach had an emotional surprise 60th birthday party... on the pitch.

Garry Oram has been a regular fixture on the football pitches around Newbury and Thatcham for 20 years, coaching teams including Sandleford Social Club, Five Bells and WKD, before dropping out of the league.

The veteran coach survived two heart attacks last year and his daughter, Natasha Oram, said that it could have been a different story without the help of Basingstoke Hospital.

Wanting to thank the hospital for saving her dad’s life, Miss Oram secretly reunited footballers managed by her father for a charity football match.

The big game was arranged for Easter Sunday, which was also Mr Oram’s birthday.

The two teams assembled at Frilsham Football Club to surprise their old coach on his birthday, cheering and clapping as he walked on to the pitch.

A proud Mr Oram said the day had been quite emotional.

He said: “It was something else. It was a good 60th.

“Sunday was a shock and it was enjoyable. It’s something that stays with you for quite a few years.

“Some of the lads I haven’t seen for years. Going along shaking their hands I didn’t recognise half of them.”

He praised his only daughter for arranging the event, adding that they were close and that Natasha had always been there for him.

The two teams battled the weather as well as each other, with the red and blacks beating the white and blues 5-1.

At one point there were 27 players on the pitch as all the subs ran on.

Everyone then stepped up to the spot for a penalty shoot-out, with the red and blacks triumphing again.

Mr Oram’s three sons – Dean, Lewis and Gavin – played in the game, with Gavin on the winning side.

The match raised £580 for the North Hampshire Medical Fund, which raises money for equipment at the Basingstoke hospital.

Miss Oram said: “Everyone turning up showed how well respected and well known he is.

“It was amazing. It couldn’t have gone better, apart from the rain.”

She added that players said in their post-match comments that “they couldn’t have done it for a better bloke”.

Miss Oram thanked Toga Sports, based in Bone Lane, Newbury, for donating kits, trophies and medals for the match.

To make a donation visit https://www.justgiving.com/ Natasha-Oram