Alex Walmsley turned his own personal loss into something extraordinarily positive.
After losing three babies through separate pregnancies, he started up Sands United West Yorkshire - a local football team and safe space for fathers who have experienced the loss of a baby to talk, get support and play football.
In 2020, Alex started up the team Sands United as a way for bereaved men to come together through their love of the sport. His goal was to make it easier to talk about their grief when they’re ready, as well as to create a scenario in which baby loss isn’t viewed as a taboo subject, but something both men and women can be open and honest about.
Sky Bet wanted to reward the local heroes in the sporting community and set out to find the Real Football No.1. After months of searching and over 900 entries later, Alex won the prestigious award, with the winner decided by a panel hosted by Jeff Stelling, of footballing legends Graeme Souness and Clinton Morrison.
After choosing the winner, host Jeff Stelling said: “What struck me most of all was the smiles on the faces of men who probably thought they would never smile again.”
Not only does Alex receive this recognition, he will also be a guest of honour at the Sky Bet EFL Championship Play-Off Final this season at Wembley. In addition to this, Sky Bet will also be covering the cost of their training pitch for the next two years, as well as pitch hire for six 11-a-side tournaments, 48 new kits and 150 bereavement packs, which will be given to hospitals.
On receiving the prizes, Alex said “these kits are just going to be a gift to them [the Dads] with their children’s name on them, which is just the most amazing thing we can receive as part of this team”
As Chairman of Sands United over the last few years, Alex’s list of responsibilities are almost never ending. His duties have included organising teams, hosting fundraisers for charity or even simply folding raffle tickets ready to be sold. His dedication to the football club and the worthwhile cause is unwavered.
Clinton Morrison visited Sands United to surprise Alex with the announcement, which is available to watch on the Sky Bet YouTube channel.
Thomas Thorn