On Monday 13th April, Keely Allen, a Trustee for both Corringham Athletic Football Club and the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, laid two footballs during a very special visit to the Christmas Day Truce Memorial in Belgium.
Keely, who heads up fundraising for the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, was honoured to attend the memorial alongside WWII veteran Ivan Staines during the charity’s visit to Ypres. At the memorial, which marks the site where a temporary truce was declared over Christmas 1914 during WWI, she laid a football on behalf of the Taxi Charity, as well as a second football representing Corringham Athletic FC.
Keely Allen said: “All the Taxi Charity trips are special, but this one really hit home for me. Not only was I honoured to accompany the amazing WWII veteran Ivan to lay a football on behalf of the Taxi Charity, I also laid a football for Corringham Athletic FC. This club is where my greatly missed dad, George Goodman, coached his last football team and remains their Life President.
“I know this is a place my dad always wanted to visit, and the fact I got to lay a football with his club name and the signatures of the managers, coaches and his name on it makes me even more proud to be his daughter.”
Corringham Athletic FC has proudly supported the Taxi Charity for many years and is deeply honoured that Keely was able to represent the club in this way.
To fund and facilitate their work, the charity is wholly reliant on donations, grants and sponsorship.
About the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans
The Taxi Charity is run by volunteer London licensed taxi drivers and has been supporting thousands of veterans since 1948. It is the only Forces charity that focuses on providing fun and entertainment and arranges free trips (for veterans from all conflicts) to the Netherlands and France for acts of commemoration and days out to museums, concerts, or social events across the UK.
The charity received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2021 and celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2023, a remarkable milestone for a small, niche charity peopled by enthusiastic volunteers.
To fund and facilitate their work, the charity is wholly reliant on donations, grants and sponsorship.
