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You would go a long way to find a more universally-popular player in football and it has not surprised me one iota to see some of the game’s big names come out and pledge their public support.
For any young man of 29 to lose his livelihood to such a cruel illness is heart-breaking but for a professional athlete, there is another level of misfortune altogether.
Darby appears to have a very strong support network, and the fact his wife Steph is a renowned footballer in her own right will probably help her understand better the emotions he is going through.
For everyone else it is a case of being there when needed. And at Bolton Wanderers there will be no shortage of volunteers to help their team-mate – for that is what he will remain – in any way necessary.
One of the immediate reactions from fans upon hearing the news was to ask if a benefit game could be staged, involving some of the club Darby played for during his career. It is still way too early to say how or when this could be done, but there have been discussions between various fans groups, including the Bolton Wanderers and Bradford City Supporters’ Trusts, to see if something could get off the ground.
Darby’s former team-mate, Peter Crouch, also wrote a touching column in one of the national papers which suggested he and a number of ex-Liverpool team-mates would be only too happy to get involved should a benefit match be sorted.
How wonderful would it be for the Reds to step forward and offer up an event at Anfield, which can house 54,000?
The football family always comes together at times of need. And over the past couple of weeks, when things have really been put into perspective at Wanderers, petty rivalries have seemed a lot easier to put aside.
It is sadly not just a case of naming a date and sending out invitations. The premature end to a playing career involves a lot of financial paperwork.
When the time is right, a game involving some of the fine players who lined-up alongside Darby in a 10-year playing career would be a fitting tribute, and an opportunity to shine a worldwide spotlight on this terrible illness.
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For any young man of 29 to lose his livelihood to such a cruel illness is heart-breaking but for a professional athlete, there is another level of misfortune altogether.
Darby appears to have a very strong support network, and the fact his wife Steph is a renowned footballer in her own right will probably help her understand better the emotions he is going through.
For everyone else it is a case of being there when needed. And at Bolton Wanderers there will be no shortage of volunteers to help their team-mate – for that is what he will remain – in any way necessary.
One of the immediate reactions from fans upon hearing the news was to ask if a benefit game could be staged, involving some of the club Darby played for during his career. It is still way too early to say how or when this could be done, but there have been discussions between various fans groups, including the Bolton Wanderers and Bradford City Supporters’ Trusts, to see if something could get off the ground.
Darby’s former team-mate, Peter Crouch, also wrote a touching column in one of the national papers which suggested he and a number of ex-Liverpool team-mates would be only too happy to get involved should a benefit match be sorted.
How wonderful would it be for the Reds to step forward and offer up an event at Anfield, which can house 54,000?
The football family always comes together at times of need. And over the past couple of weeks, when things have really been put into perspective at Wanderers, petty rivalries have seemed a lot easier to put aside.
It is sadly not just a case of naming a date and sending out invitations. The premature end to a playing career involves a lot of financial paperwork.
When the time is right, a game involving some of the fine players who lined-up alongside Darby in a 10-year playing career would be a fitting tribute, and an opportunity to shine a worldwide spotlight on this terrible illness.
Source