Lifelong Charlton FC fan meets his heroes in style
GRAVESEND, Kent, 12th May 2023 – When Red Robbins’ supporter Frank Forbes, 88, developed multiple health problems which included heart and kidney failure, he feared the days of visiting his favourite club were over.
Determined to prove his client wrong, Jon Phillips and Maggie Sowe, co-directors of companionship service Sheila May’s, made contact with Charlton FC in the hope of seeking special provision. ‘It was by no means easy or straightforward’ Phillips professed later, ‘Frank, due to numerous health complications, is largely housebound so it required some planning.’
‘I was reached out to by Jon Phillips from Sheila May’s, Frank wanted to come to one of his last Charlton games’ reflected Tracey Leaburn, Manager and Player Liaison Officer at Charlton Athletic ‘so we arranged for him to watch his beloved Charlton game.’ The club invited Forbes and his family to watch the Charlton v Shrewsbury match in an executive suite, much to the surprise of the club’s special guest.
‘Frank had no idea until a week before the game’ explained Phillips, ‘Courtesy of Lisa Muerhead from St John’s Hospital and John Kefford from Primary Ambulance Services, the pair arranged an ambulance to collect Frank from his home in Eynsford, Kent. Without their intervention, he would not have been able to have gone and I think it meant the world to him that he did.’
During the half-time break, a handful of Charlton luminaries paid Forbes a visit in his suite with former left-back Scott Minto, midfielder Colin Powell, former manager Alan Curbishley and the current manager Dean Holden all making an appearance. The football legends signed a photograph for Forbes and swapped stories with the octogenarian as he tucked into an ambrosial lunch of beef stew and cheesecake. ‘Lovely to meet them in person’ reflected Forbes ‘to meet them in person is wonderful. Really lovely.’
If meeting the heroes from Charlton’s past was the icing on the cake, the cherry on top for Forbes would no doubt have been attending the Valley stadium to witness the Red Robbins triumph over Shrewsbury. By the final whistle, the score was an emphatic 6 – 0 for Charlton and thus concluded a memorable afternoon.
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Media Contact:
Jon Phillips, Director of Sheila May’s
Phone: +44 (0) 7984 787123
E-mail: Jon@sheilamays.co.uk
About Sheila May’s Limited
Sheila May’s is an award-winning companion and personal assistance service in Gravesend, Kent. The company was founded by Jon Phillips and Maggie Sowe in 2022 to provide bespoke support for customers and their relatives. Respite services include undertaking domestic chores to arranging transportation for field trips and visits to see friends and family. Sheila May’s received the coveted award for Most Compassionate Companionship Service Provider at the 2023 UK Enterprise Awards.