Mr Rapido, Joe Roper, captivates guests in Ely with his passion for goalball

On Friday 11^th November at the Ely City Golf Club, guests were entertained by Tony Cottee, one of the most prolific goal scorers that English football have ever witnessed during the 1980s and 1990s. Tony spoke about his 19-year career playing for his beloved team West Ham United, Everton and Leicester scoring an amazing 290 first glass goals.  

Tony congratulated the SportsAid recipient goalball player, Joe Roper, known affectionately as Mr Rapido – due to his speed around the goalball court – on his sporting achievements. Joe brought along a goalball and eye mask and talked guests through the rules of the game explaining how physically fit players need to be to compete. Joe is currently recovering from a broken elbow having landed on a goal during a match in September.

Thanks were given to the Ely Golf Club and their catering team for producing an excellent lunch.

Mark Ormerod, chair of SportsAid Eastern, thanked the four lunch club sponsors, Ashtons Legal; PEM Accountants; Cheffins and Grovemere Property for their support without which the lunches would not be possible.

Date of the next lunches are Friday 16^th June and Friday 10^th November 2023.