REMEMBERING DAVID ERVINE
Glentoran Football Club and the David Ervine Foundation are delighted to announce that to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the death of David Ervine MLA the Foundation is honoured announce the following:
- Bursaries over 5 years, to support four disadvantaged young people each year in the Glentoran Academy to help fulfil their ambitions in football and in life;
- Sponsorship of a David Ervine Youth Cup in his memory.
- Sponsorship of Saturday’s Irish Cup tie between Belfast’s “Big Two”, Glentoran and Linfield and sponsorship of the match ball.
David Ervine was a dedicated, lifelong Glentoran supporter. The last known photograph of David was taken on the Oval terraces watching a match the Glens won 8-0 (v Armagh City) on 6th January 2007, having agreed with his friends from the Raven Glentoran Supporters Club to relax a bit more and get to more games! Within 24 hours David fell ill and one day later he was dead from a heart attack & stroke.
David Ervine was proud of his working-class roots in Glentoran’s East Belfast heartland. He never denied the route he took in his youth but throughout his political career he was resolutely committed representing his 'constituency', community and to building peaceful, inclusive and decent society in Northern Ireland. This was his vision and task and many would say his tireless commitment to it brought him to an early grave at the age of 53.
However, his legacy lives on a decade after his loss. Within months of his death, the David Ervine Foundation was established by his family, friends and colleagues. In the words of his wife Jeanette it was, 'to enable disadvantaged children and young people to reach their full potential - to give them a vision and a chance to do their best'. Over the past 10 years the Foundation has supported many children and young people from all communities in this way. Through this formal support of the Glentoran Academy – home to nearly 400 young footballers from all backgrounds and all sections of the community – David Ervine continues to contribute to the football club he loved.
Jeanette Ervine (widow of David) and Jackie Redpath of the David Ervine Foundation present a cheque on behalf of the Federation to Stephen Henderson (Chairman, Glentoran FC) and Grahame Jenkins (Glentoran Director responsible for the Academy). Also in the photograph are young members of the Glentoran Academy.