Eagles stabilising after legendary day with Bantams (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Eagles stabilising after legendary day with Bantams

9:26am Friday 1st May 2009 in Sport By Ian Whiting

Eagles' secretary Mark Holstead says the club are still totting up the receipts from last Sunday’s fund-raiser against a Bradford City Legends team but will be forever indebted to the Bantams for their involvement.

Holstead said: “It was an excellent day - we couldn’t have asked for more from Bradford City.

"Ever since David Baldwin came to the club to discuss our problems with us, they have been really helpful.

“There were over a thousand people in our ground, and that was a marvellous sight.

"The stand was full and there wasn’t a spare place anywhere on the perimeter fence to get in and watch the game. From an organisers' point of view that was very rewarding and satisfying.”

Eccleshill United were sailing close to the wind and almost capsized without trace.

The club was strapped for cash, endured recurrent vandalism and the knock-on effect saw them struggling on the pitch.

Some of the players moved on to clubs that were in positions to pay them, and the youngsters left were too inexperienced to compete against the established semi-pros at all of their rivals.

The Eagles finished rock bottom of the Kool Sport Northern Counties East League Premier Division.

“The money we raised from the Bantams game and auction of the items they and other Football League clubs donated will stabilise us,” added Holstead.

“Stuart (McCall) couldn’t play - he had a knee injury, not to mention an awful lot on his mind. Now we know he is staying that is excellent news and just what we all wanted to hear.

“The boss wasn’t there but Wayne Jacobs and David Wetherall played, and so did some of the other City Legends - Dean Windass, Lee Sinnott, Terry Dolan, Mark Ellis.

"It was like 'spot the star' in their team. The day was a great success and we can’t thank them enough.”