A Town XI featuring ex-players will take part in a benefit match for the two non-league players who were seriously injured in a hit-and-run incident in Newmarket last Friday. The Blues XI will play Newmarket Town at their Cricket Field Road ground on Sunday 31st July (KO 3pm).

Shaun Whiter, who had just joined Newmarket Town, had both his legs amputated and remains seriously ill in Addenbrooke’s Hospital, while his friend Joey Abbs, who plays for Soham Town Rangers, suffered serious injuries to his right leg after they were hit by a car as they repaired a puncture at the roadside in Dullingham Road, Newmarket.

An appeal, which can be contributed to here, has been launched to raise to raise £120,000 to help Shaun walk down the aisle and marry his girlfriend Charlotte next summer.

“We have close connections with Newmarket Town, we are opening a new development centre there in September on their brand new pitch and we recruited Steven Cahill, one of our new scholars, from there two years ago,” Town’s academy head of recruitment Steve McGavin told the club site.

“Steven's dad coaches the reserve team, his grandad is the chairman and their first-team coach, Kevin Parsons, coaches in our development centre in Cambridge, so for us it seemed like the natural thing to try and help the two players and their families in any way we can.

“The game has only been arranged in the last 24 hours so Simon Milton and I will be on the phone to get a team together and hopefully we will get a good turnout at Newmarket to raise as much as we can for Shaun and Joey.”

Photo: Action Images

oioihardy added 14:53 - Jul 6 Surely the players can contribute towards this Aswell !?
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floridaboy added 15:30 - Jul 6 It would mean so much to many fans if the owner made a contribution to such a worthy cause. How about a couple of first team players acting as managers of the Town XI
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TractorCam added 17:35 - Jul 6 Really good gesture, hoping the club make a donation towards this and hopefully some ex-blues will have no hesitation in playing in this match
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jas0999 added 18:07 - Jul 6 I really do hope we free up a couple of first team senior players for this. Great stuff from the club.
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whosroundisitanyway added 18:13 - Jul 6 Puts everything in perspective doesn't it.
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Tufty added 18:42 - Jul 6 Bucket collection at the first home game
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WubbleU added 19:31 - Jul 6 There is a week between Barnet and Colchester friendlies... send the first team over that blank weekend or if Newmarket are busy then play a local non league XI at Portman Road. A few thousand of us would go along to raise some funds and watch a game.
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lightingblue added 20:35 - Jul 6 Would be nice for the club to stump up the money for still a young man who I guess would have kids with his future wife and we should do our upmost to help and support this guy with life changing injuries. For the person who didn't stop. God will deal with you in good time
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martin587 added 08:34 - Jul 7 This is a tragic accident in which a young man has been terribly injured,my thoughts go out to you and your family.Lets hope ITFC send a strong team and raise a great deal of money.All the very best Shaun.
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Alan_Handsome added 14:34 - Jul 15 Absolutely horrendous accident and it's good that our club feel the need to do something. Well done.
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12th_Man added 21:51 - Jul 19 Still no news on ticket price
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