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Football

16th Feb 2022

£20k appeal launched for family of footballer who died during game last weekend

Callum Boyle

Darren Scott died at the weekend during a game in South Shields

A £20,000 appeal has been launched for the family of an amateur footballer who died during a game in South Shields last weekend.

Darren Scott was playing for the Cobblers Hall FC over-40s team in a game against South Shields Catholic Club on Saturday when he tragically collapsed.

As per the Newcastle Chronicleboth the North East Ambulance Service and Great North Air Ambulance were called to the scene, however Scott, 40, was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Mark Preston, a friend of Scott and the club secretary for Cobblers Hall, was at the game when the tragic incident occurred.

“He came off after 20 minutes with a suspected hamstring injury. About six or seven minutes into the second half I turned and saw he was lying down on the ground,” he recalled.

“It was obvious something was wrong and he needed medical attention and we called for an ambulance.

“Two of the team are first aiders and they carried out CPR before the ambulance crews arrived.

“They got there really quickly after about 10 minutes. Everybody did their best – the ambulance crews, the two teams – with all their efforts.

“One of the ambulance staff said to me what we did had given them a chance to save Daz but it wasn’t to be this time.”

Among the large number of tributes that have poured in for Scott, a JustGiving fundraising page has been set up to support the family of Darren and set a target of £20,000 – which has already received over £16,000 in donations.

“Donna [Darren’s wife] and the children will need help not just now but in the future. They are part of the club’s family and we intend to look after them,” added Mark.

“Daz was a generous, honest guy with not a bad word to say about anybody.”

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