Local clubs join together in tribute match

TWO football clubs will gather next month to honour the memory and legacy of one of their own in a special tribute match dedicated to him.

Winchelsea Football Netball Club and Yackandandah Football Netball Club will meet in a pre-season fixture on Saturday, March 16 in honour of Ed Smith, who tragically passed away in December last year.

The contest will serve as one of Winchelsea’s three pre-season fixtures ahead of its season opener against Thomson on April 6, and as a chance to remember Smith’s life, with a cup up for grabs to the winner of the contest.

“Winchelsea will be heading down the freeway for one of our three practice matches scheduled for this year to take on Yackandandah in a tribute match dedicated in memory of Ed Smith, on Saturday 16th of March, where both clubs will be playing for a cup dedicated to Ed,” the club announced on Sunday.

“It would be great to see as many Winchelsea supporters make the trek to Yackandandah for this special occasion, so mark this one in your calendars, to be there to support both clubs and more importantly, the Smith Family.”

Smith, who died at the age of 21, was farewelled at a memorial service on January 2 at Yackandandah Public Hall with more than 500 people attending to say their goodbyes.

Smith was a member of Winchelsea’s senior program for two seasons after spending most of his playing career in his hometown of Yackandandah and in Port Macquarie.