Chris gets his wish with charity penalty shootout

Chris, who is 55 and played for Padiham in the 1970s and ‘80s, has lost both his legs due to illness and faces the threat of losing an arm. However, he is determined to put on his kit one more time and stand between the posts to help generate some funds at the Arbories as well as two local charities who have helped and supported him during his illness.

Those charities include Pendleside Hospice and the Doctor Niven research fund.

Chris has Churggstrauss Syndrome, which is an autoimmune disease that affects the body’s defence mechanism, which was diagnosed in 2006 and has progressively worsened.

His greatest wish is that his former team mates, friends and relatives will turn up at the weekend (kick-off 3 p.m.) to watch Padiham’s North West Counties Premier Division fixture and sponsor him for taking part in the half-time penalty shoot out.

Everyone is then also invited to attend the fund-raising function in the evening which will also be held at the YESSS Electrical Arena.

Padiham Football Club have named the fixture “The Chris Ormerod Game” in his honour and are asking for as many of his former team mates as possible to turn up and meet with the Storks stopper who has bravely put his illness to one side to take part in this special day and hopefully evoke some happy memories.

A collection at Padiham Football Club’s Sportsman’s Dinner on Thursday night kick started Chris’s fund by raising £260.

Anybody wishing to sponsor Chris should contact Padiham FC secretary Alan Smith for further details on 07775717698.