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Fans of Hinckley United and football, said their last goodbyes to Matt Gadsby on
Sunday April 1st as the final event of the Memorial Fund took place at the Marston
Stadium. 1400 people were in attendance to see Legends of the game and players
from Matt's previous clubs take part in a memorial
match for Matt. The Legends team included Gary McAllister, Matt Le Tissier, Matt
Elliott, Nigel Winterburn, Steve Hodge, David Speedie, David Regis, Nicky Platnauer,
Micky Gynn and Paul Culpin. The teams were led onto the pitch by Matt's daughter 1
year old Amelia Gadsby, and her cousin 3 year old Daniel Gillespie, son of Rachel,
Matt's sister. For the first half the Legends took on a team from Hinckley United
with most of Hinckley's team getting a run out at some stage. Hinckley took a 2-0
lead within 15 minutes thanks to goals from Neil Cartwright and Owen Story, before
a superb and cheeky free kick from Matt Le Tissier brought it back to 2-1 after
half an hour. Andy Brown scored Hinckley's third right on half time when he out
jumped Matt Elliott in the goal to head home. For the second half a Gadsby Select
XI took on the legends, this was a team put together by Ian Foster compromising
of Matt's former clubs, plus a rather portly fellow by the name of Dean Thomas in
goal. Thomas was called into action when he managed to stop another Le Tissier free
kick, before Iyesden Christie scored a fourth for the Gadsby Select. Then mid way
through the second half Dean Thomas defected, took off his top to reveal a Legends
shirt and changed sides playing for the Legends. Amazingly Thomas scored for the
Legends within minutes of his double cross, finshing off a rebound from the edge of
the area. The Gadsby Select XI had the final word though scoring a fifth just before
full time. There was a question and answer session with Peter Shilton, Matt Elliott
and David Speedie before the players joined the fans in the bar all happy to sign
autographs and stand for photos.
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