Director repays his gift of life

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Skelmersdale United have taken delivery of a defibrillator thanks to Director Don Tucker whose life was saved twice by the emergency equipment, writes Neil Leatherbarrow.

Thanks to a unique partnership between the Football Associaton and British Heart Foundation, more than half of the league's clubs have already purchased the life-saving equipment since the launch of a £1.2m Defibrillator Fund in March to underwrite two thirds of the usual £1000 cost.

The Premier Division leaders became the latest to take delivery of one before their 4-3 win over Blyth Spartans thanks to their former keeper who collapsed on St Valentine's Day in 2005 and was twice revived with a defibrillator, once at home and then on the way to hospital.

With the heightened awareness around sudden cardiac arrests since Bolton star Fabrice Muamba collapsed in an FA Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur last year leading so many clubs to take action, delighted Skem say Tucker decided to act and help repay his own gift of life.

Tucker, who is pictured handing the new defibrillator to Skem physio Michelle Scott with the pair flanked by United Chairman Paul Griffiths and manager Tommy Lawson, said: "A heart defibrillator saved my life, so when I found out I could indirectly save someone else’s I felt I had to pass on the gift to help people in general.

"It is a wonderful invention, without which I wouldn’t be here. I hope no one ever needs it, but if it saves one life it will have done its job and the money is a small price to pay."

Tucker has a long history with Skelmersdale United going back to two separate spells with as the club's keeper, the first from 1953 until 1956 and the second in the late fifties. He was invited to join the club at the time by former Chairman John Foster and combined his appearances at their then Sandy Lane ground with National Service in the Royal Air Force.

Stationed for much of the time at Warton near Lytham St. Annes, he travelled to Skelmersdale on his motor bike to play. Tucker, who went on to play for the Liverpool County FA team, moved up in the game and joined Penrith before playing regularly against the legendary Bishop Auckland team of the time.

He was also selected to play for the Cumberland FA and returned to Skem in an official role by chance eight years when he went to watch Skelmersdale play and met then Chairman Arthur Gore. On finding out that he was the son of Skelmersdale’s trainer in the 1950s, Jimmy Gore, he started watching Skelmersdale regularly. He was soon hooked again and joined the Board as well as being made a Vice-President.

For more information visit: www.bhf.org.uk/football