Ex-Aston Villa goalie terminally ill as Midland football legends rally for his final wish Midland Legends will take on Romulus Veterans at Sutton Coldfield Town Football Club on November 19 Football legends will gather in support of a former Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper who is terminally ill at the age of 47. Derek Dudley, who spent four years at Villa from 1984-88, has been diagnosed with a severe liver illness and the former stopper has one final wish: to get ex-teammates together for a game. One of Derek’s friends, Jon Pearson, said: “Derek’s in a bad way. He’s terminally ill because his liver has stopped working and he is currently having his stomach drained of excess fluid. Over the past few years he’s played for the former players’ sides, playing more than 150 times. We’ve worked out that he’s probably helped raise £500,000 for different charities over the years.He was the first name on the team sheet – Mr Reliable we used to call him because he’d always play. That’s the type of bloke he is, he always goes out of his way to help others. I spoke to him recently and he’s got three things on his bucket list: to have a nice meal with his children, a pub lunch with steak and the lads to get together one last time to play a game. Derek lives in Rugeley with his wife Helen. He has two children: Daniel (13) and Elizabeth (11) Next week’s charity game on Sunday, November 19 will be Midland Legends against Romulus Veterans at Sutton Coldfield Town Football Club, Coles Lane, kick-off 10.30am. Those confirmed include players from Villa’s 1982 European Cup-winning side: Gordan Cowans, Nigel Spink, Pat Heard, Tony Morley and Peter Withe. Elsewhere, Baggies legends Richard Sneekes and Bob Taylor will be in attendance along with Julian Joachim, Darren Byfield, Lee Hendrie and Tony Daley to name a few.Admission is priced at £3 for adults; £1 children; family ticket £5 (two adults, two children). Those in attendance are invited back for refreshments and an auction at The Yenton pub, Sutton Road, Wylde Green. All proceeds will go directly to Derek and his family.

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