GoFundMe Page Launched For Injured Clemons
[Written by Stephen Wright]
A GoFundMe page has been launched for Bermuda footballer Willie Clemons to raise $25,460 [£20,000] for an operation to help him return to action.
Clemons suffered a serious knee injury playing for English non-league side Braintree Town last season and faces a 14-month wait for a consultation with a doctor.
The fundraising page was set up by Braintree match secretary James Crysell last week and has raised more than $2,000 for the midfielder, who has ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament [ACL], buckled his posterior cruciate ligament [PCL], sprained his medial collateral ligament [MCL], torn his meniscus and has infrapatellar contusion.
Clemons, who had to quit his job as a printer because of the injury, will be able to pay for private medical treatment if the club reach the fundraising target.
“Now injury at any level of football is hard on anyone, especially the player who just wants to play,” the GoFundMe page reads.
“But in non-league, it can be so much more than in the professional game due to the lack of funding and long NHS [National Health Service] waiting lists that prevent a player from getting back to do what they love.
“Most non-league footballers also have day jobs to help supplement their football and in Willie’s case, this was no different. But sustaining this injury then put pressure on Willie whose job was in printing so was on his feet all day.
“This became unbearable, and he had to leave his job to find something else to suit.
“I know from speaking to Willie how thankful he and his family would be to everyone that will support this cause.”
Clemons made 26 appearances for Braintree last term before getting injured in March.
The 28-year-old, who previously played for non-league side Stowmarket Town and Swedish lower-league teams Bodens and Dalkurd, tweeted: “I wanna thank everyone who’s donated/shared the link, and everyone who’s sent me well wishes regarding the injury and rehabilitation. Special thanks to Braintree Town.”
Clemons was part of the Bermuda squad at the Concacaf Gold Cup in 2019.
To donate, click here.
