Charity match set to honour Jake and mini Beetle engineer Maurice
THE FAMILY of a devoted Derby County fan who passed away in 2022 are holding a memorial game to remember him and raise money for charity.
Jake Brierley, from Shelton Lock, was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) when he was just 11 months old. His condition meant he required the use of a wheelchair throughout his life.
The charity game, termed the Jake Brierley Cup and organised by his older cousin, Ben, is an 11-a-side match which is to be held at Ilkeston Town Football Club this weekend.
The money raised will go to REMAP, an organisation that provides custom-made equipment and adaptations for people with a disability.
“He passed away almost two years ago when he was 23”, said Ben, from Oakwood, “it’s been a couple of years now and I wanted to do something to remember him and let his mum and dad know that we’re all thinking of him, but at the same time I wanted to raise some money.”
“REMAP really helped Jake when he was younger and first starting to get around”, said older cousin Jake.
“He was too small for a wheelchair at that point.
“So, they got involved and one of the engineers (Maurice Elliot) made essentially a little Volkswagen Beetle, with a metal frame, joystick and wheelchair motors. He could sit up, use the joystick and whizz around.
“There were about five other young children who had had these built, along with private plates, and they would all meet up which helped their independence at a young age – it was fantastic.”
Ben contacted REMAP after he had decided on a charity football match, asking if they wanted to attend the event.
It was once they’d replied that he received some sad and untimely news – Maurice Elliot MBE, the man who had given Jake and others a new lease of life with their custom electric cars, had only just passed away.
“I got an email back from REMAP
with them saying ‘we know exactly who Jake is’ but they said that Maurics had sadly passed away, and that his funeral was on April 11.
“So, as a result we wanted to have a minute’s silence – or a minute’s applause – for him in the charity game.
“We had a minute’s applause for Jake in the 23rd minute against Port Vale (October 8, 2022) where the whole stadium joined in, it was incredible.”
So far the initiative has raised £1,149 of its £1,500 target. Ben, who works as a bricklayer, said it was his own son Harry who came up with the idea.
“Jake loved Derby and football generally, it was one of the things that he could do which was to go to matches. He absolutely loved it.
“The teams for the day will be Jake’s Rams vs Jake’s Academy, and will be a mix of some friends and family, along with some old footballers as well.
“His dad Lee will be acting as manager on the sidelines.”
The Jake Brierley Memorial Cup will be held this Saturday, May 4, at Ilkeston Town Football Club. Kickoff will be at 11am.
You can donate to the cause by visiting www.gofundme.com/f/thejake-brierley-cup