Inaugural Ian Nevison Memorial Trophy

The Inaugural Ian Nevison Memorial Trophy football match was hosted by New Mills Football club on the 22nd August 2021. The event was a huge success, attended by hundreds of ‘Nevs’ close friends, family, colleagues and acquaintances spanning almost 50 years. The event was a fun packed day of football, celebrating the life of a local non-league football legend, with both junior and senior teams coming to play in his memory.

The precursor to the main event was a combined U13’s and U14’s Junior match between New Mills JFC and Nev’s beloved Woodley Albion JFC, who fielded a team of past and present players, that Nev had coached during his 10 years with the club.

The main event saw a Curzon Ashton XI and a combined New Mills and Woodley Sport XI battle it out to win the Inaugural Ian Nevison Memorial Trophy. A consortium of non-league heroes who’d all played for Nev during their footballing careers, came together to remember the Assistant Manager who had such a positive impact on so many within the non-league footballing community. However, it was Curzon Ashton who narrowly pipped their opposition to the trophy with a 6-5 win!

Nev’s 14 year-old son Freddy, played for both Junior and Senior teams and even managed to secure a place on the score sheet, after scoring a penalty for Curzon Ashton!

The event was the most fitting way in which to celebrate Nev's life, ensuring his memory lives on through the sport he loved so much, raising over £9K for the Ian Nevison Memorial Fund.

Thank you to Tony and Dawn Hancock for initiating the idea, Ray Coverley and Sue Hyde for hosting and organising the day at New Mills FC, which played a huge part in Nev's footballing career. Thank you also to John Flanagan, Ian Campbell and Mike Barber who along with Tony Hancock Managed the teams, Chris Culkin who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, Tony Rigby for donating the senior trophies and Mike Barber the junior trophies.

A huge thank you also to all the sponsors who helped make the day the success it was:

Raider Transport​​

Morrells

Curzon Ashton

Woodley Albion

R&R Utilities

Effiflex

AC Electrical

SMR Utilities

Lastly but by no means least, thank you to all the players, for dedicating their time and continuing to show their love and appreciation for Nev, not to mention all those who attended, volunteered and local businesses who advertised in the programme to show their support.