Corby football team dons pink ribbon in dedication to Angela

The kit was launched on Sunday. Pictures by Simon Munday Photography.

Corby Stewarts & Lloyds FC’s under-15 side made the pledge after Angela Lloyd was diagnosed with the disease.

In June Angela found a lump which, after a lumpectomy, was confimed as Stage 0 DCIS Breast Cancer.

The football community, friends and family rallied to support her in every possible way.

On August 4 Angela got married to husband James, a coach at the club, with friends and family around them and on August 23 she underwent a mastectomy and reconstruction.

On September 7 she had the fantastic news that the cancer was gone.

Now the team, captained by James’ son Aaron in goal, is raising awareness of breast cancer throughout the community in dedication to her by having the pink ribbon on the centre of their kit.

They unveiled the shirt on Sunday, September 23, before beating Corby Rising Hope 5-0 at Woodsend football pitch.

James said: “It was absolutely fantastic to see.

“Both sets of parents were really on board with it and the boys really loved doing their bit.

“Angela was very emotional.”

In August James managed to source a much-needed sponsor for the team, Car Castle Care in Uppingham, but they were desperate for a new kit.

John Bartlem from the firm offered his help and James ran the pink ribbon idea past him and manager Ryan Hall, who immediately agreed.

He then spoke to MDH Teamwear, who kindly donated the charge of printing as a gift to them for the cause.

Ahead of the game last week the team presented Angela with a shirt with Lloyd on the back and the number 18, the year of her diagnosis, and will retire the number.

James added that Angela’s efforts as treasurer, including running the Thomas McNamee tournament, were vital to the team.

He said: “She is just a massive part of the team, anything to do with fundraising and she is on it.

“She feels like she is the lucky one.”

The kit will get another outing this weekend when S&L take on Thrapston Town in a top-of-the-table clash.

When she was diagnosed with breast cancer Angela kept her mind occupied by fundraising.

She decided to sign up to Walk the Walk Moonwalk London, a 26-mile power walking marathon around Clapham Common wearing a decorated bra in May 2019.

She is trying to get as many people from football to join her team and she already has four members including James and Aaron.

Within 48 hours of creating her fundraising page - https://moonwalklondon2019.everydayhero.com/uk/angela-9 - she raised nearly £300.

Angela is also planning a breast cancer awareness themed race night with help from the Stewarts & Lloyds youth chairman Andrew Moon to help raise money for her Walk the Walk Moonwalk Challenge.

To find out more about the challenge, visit https://walkthewalk.org/.