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50p Where’s Wally?

where sold
illagers and visitors to Stanley were look-
Ving for Wally last month.
The fictitious character with striped T-shirt and cir-
cular framed glasses could be seen in various places
- even on a rooftop.
Villager Terry Hall said: ”It’s wonderful that people
participated in the fun by making Wallies and dis-
playing them on the trail. It was all about bringing a
smile to people’s faces after the dismal Covid situa-
tion. Full marks to one villager who even made the
effort to get on a ladder and put one on a chimney.”
September 2021 Written by the community for the community People following the trail also had chance to win

Where people tell their stories No. 73 www.ilkestonlife.com 50p where sold a prize by making a word from a letter revealed at
each Wally location.
Cheering our readers in Ilkeston and surrounding districts The trail was organised by Beverley Rhodes.
Ilkeston football referee Inside:

is officiating in Tokyo Ilkeston’s own
hit musical

Paralympic Games composer - P5

n Ilkeston man has been represent- them and to see the talent from across the Tributes to caring
Aing England in Tokyo, refereeing world come together at the Paralympics. It Carol - P7
blind football at the Paralympics. was something special, something I will
57-year-old Andy Page was selected to remember for the rest of my football career An invitation to enjoy the
most definitely.”
officiate at the games back in 2019 and Blind football is played with an adapted it as a goalkeeper! countryside on our doorstep
was originally due to fly out in 2020, ball, which has small bearings in it that “Football has took me so many places
before the competition was cancelled due makes a shaking sound when it moves. The and opened a lot of doors for me. In a few - P20
to COVID-19. players can listen out for the ball and play as months time the Commonwealth Games are
Speaking about the appointment, Andy said: normal. They are all blindfolded to ensure coming to Birmingham and then the Euros Touched by the kindness of a
“When the Olympics and Paralympics were the same level of sight. will be in Paris, so I’m not even done yet! Good Samaritan - P4
cancelled last year I was gutted. Up until a Boards are put up around the outside of the I’ve still got a few years left in me. Watch
few months ago it was still looking uncer- pitch to stop the ball from going out of play, this space.” Robins’ match reports - P24
tain if they’d even be able to take place and players must call ‘voy’ which is Spanish By Emma Page
this year too, but there have been people for ‘to go’, so their teammates and opposi-
working so hard to ensure we can go and tion know where they are on the pitch and
go safely. I had to do tests before I left, when they are moving to make a tackle.
have had multiple flight changes to avoid There were some great games of football
travelling through a red list country, and played by every team that went to the
stick to myself as much as possible when Paralympics and Andy felt very fortunate to
we landed, so when I finally arrived it was a be there.
good feeling!” He said: “With everything that’s happened
Andy joined referees from all over the over the last 18 months, I didn’t take this
world, including France, Belgium and Ar- opportunity for granted. To be selected was
gentina, but unfortunately not the England incredible. I was so proud and I know my
Blind Football team. family was too. I’ve been very lucky to have
Explaining this, Andy said: “Back in 2019 I such an extensive footballing career, and
went out to Rome to officiate at the Europe- when I moved into disability sport this was
an championships. The winners and runners always a goal for me.
up from this tournament were the ones that “To be able to represent the English Foot-
were selected for the Paralympics, and sadly ball Association for the Derbyshire FA
England lost to Spain in the semi finals on and Erewash Valley Referees Society at
penalties, so didn’t get to go. the Paralympics was one of the proudest
“The English team is brilliant and has some moments for me. I’m just a lad that lived on
really strong players. It’s amazing to watch Gregory Street and was told I’d never make

Andy Page (pictured front left) as second referee before Turkey v Germany, held in Berlin for the
2017 European Championships.