Many of you will know David Lilley, the Chairman of DLFC, the dedicated football loving Dad and Coach of our community. Dave started DLFC not that long ago and has provided opportunities and a safe space for hundreds of kids through his football club.

This last year Dave and Sam have worked tirelessly building the club and also arranging a jam packed football trip to Belgium for 122 of DLFC kids and parents. On Friday 28th July they all set off on their Travels. Unfortunately, on the ferry from Dover to Calis Dave fell ill and suffered a stroke. Since then Dave has been hospitalised in France and without giving the detail Dave is still quite ill. He was hoping to return on Saturday 5th August and all prepared to leave after purchasing £600 non refundable train tickets he then recieved further news of more tests required and potential heart disease. Dave will need to rest for quite some time and his prognosis is still unknown. Dave and Sam have 3 boys between them and this is understandably a worrying time for the family, thier Summer Holidays will not be the same.

As a community club we’d like to raise some money for them all to ensure they have no worries about any incurred medical/health costs and are able to come home safely and affordably when the time is right.

Just an update for everyone…

Sam and Dave were so hopeful to return home last Friday and was told by the nurses to book travel (costing a lot), David just had one more test to do and then Sam was to sort paperwork and then come home!

Unfortunately his last test on his heart was a bad result.

David is to have heart surgery on 7th August so will not be home for a while yet.

Message from Sam… ‘The ongoing cost of living in this nightmare has been a huge worry for us so what you guys have done it’s massively appreciated and will help so much. This will help ease the burden of the cost so far and the costs we have already spent on travel and not used is non refundable 😣. everything is so expensive here 😣

We are just missing everyone and desperate to come home but David is being looked after well and they are working really fast.’

Let’s keep the support going and support our Gaffa in anyway we can. Everyone is amazing and all efforts no matter how big or small are extremely appreciated.

Further update from Sam & Dave 10.08.23…

Dave now has DVT in his leg, a blood clot on the heart aswell as a blood clot on the brain. A bleed on the brain (now stopped) and his heart is 50% too big. He still have an undiagnosed heart problem but all the other things have been diagnosed now and now on treatment for.

Dave will I have to have two plates put on to the heart which can be done back in England in the close future when he eventually make it home.

They really appreciate the fundraising. It’s been 2 weeks now in the France hospital and the insurance are only looking to pay put 80%.. There are addidtional cost for foot etc as well as for Sam bein by his side.

When Dave is back in England it will obviously be a long road to recovery and a huge financial strain. Running a club like DLFC is a passion and comes with no financial gain so again it will be tough for Dave having to take it easy and not getting involved full steam as he’s used to. At the moment we still dont know what the full recovery time maybe and i know all kind words and support are going a long way to helping them both stay strong 💪🏼