Harry ‘honoured’ by new bursary award
Thursday, 16 October 2008
Former Man Utd and NI international goalkeeper Harry Gregg and guests who attended the launch of the new Harry Gregg Bursary at a reception in the Cloonavin last Friday.
FORMER Man Utd and NI international goalkeeper Harry Gregg says he is 'honoured' to lend his name to a new sports bursary which will be presented for the first time at next month's Coleraine Sports Awards.
Gregg, last week presented with a Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Award, was speaking at the launch of the bursary at a reception in the Cloonavin on Friday. The man voted the best goalkeeper at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden and who is recognised as the hero of the Munich air disaster said he hoped the inaugural winner of the bursary would enjoy some of the joys he experienced in a lifetime in sport.
“It's an honour to be recognised in your own town by your town council and to have a bursary created in your name," said Harry.
“I did look the word 'bursary' up in the dictionary before I came here and I understand it means 'payment for a student' which I think is terribly important.
“I was lucky enough to play football which gave me a wonderful life. It gave me a chance to travel the world and had I been born a rich man I would have been willing to pay for what I was paid for doing.
“I sincerely hope someone has the pleasures and some of the joys I had and I'm sure something good will come out of it.
“I'm very proud to be a part of it."
The bursary award, which is open to all sports clubs within the borough of Coleraine which has a sports section and is recognised by NI Sport, has been launched by Coleraine Borough Council in association with Coleraine Sports Council.
It will be presented annually at the Coleraine Sports Awards, which this year take place in Coleraine's Lodge Hotel on Friday November 14. "We have many quality youth and junior set-ups throughout Coleraine who strive to give their young players the best possible opportunities and to develop their skills from an early age so that they can go on to perform and compete at senior, national and international levels," said the mayor of Coleraine, Cllr David Barbour.
“The introduction of the bursary will provide a valuable resource to clubs throughout the borough to supplement the costs attributed to quality training and development. I would like to thank Dr Gregg for lending his support and endorsing this worthwhile programme," he added.
The new bursary will be used to further develop young club members and will go towards costs of travel, coaching, competition and equipment. Application forms are now available from Coleraine Leisure Centre, Coleraine Borough Council Offices and the Chronicle offices on Railway Road.
