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Sporting community rallies to help injured Damian Neville

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DAMIAN NEVILLE

THE LOCAL community is mobilising fundraising efforts to assist the medical fund of  well-known local sportsman, Damian Neville, who suffered a serious spinal injury two months ago and is recovering in a Florida hospital.

Friends of Neville, a 41-year-old father, have organised the first of these initiatives with a Euro France 2016 tip pool.

The pool, a version of fantasy sports for football’s European Championship, will see registered players vie for thousands of dollars worth of prizes as they collect points based on predicted wins in the tournament’s 51 matches over the next four weeks, starting today with hosts France against Romania.

All proceeds from the events will go to support Neville’s medical expenses.

Thomas Mill, a member of the fundraising committee, said there would be more initiatives to follow, including a soccer tournament as they continue to use the game at which Neville was so proficient to assist in his time of need.

With the road to recovery expected to be a challenging one physically and financially, the fundraisers are looking to alleviate one aspect to assist the Neville family.

During his playing days Neville was a member of the Bears, Cavalier and Celedonia Celtic clubs in the Bahamas Football Association (BFA) Senior Leagues.

He made his international debut for the Bahamas in a March 2000 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Anguilla and has earned three caps. All games were World Cup qualifiers, the last in March 2004 against Dominica.

He went on to serve as an executive in the BFA.

In April, Neville suffered a traumatic spinal injury in an accident during the Bahamas rugby team’s preparations for their World Cup qualifying match against Mexico.

Neville was taken to Doctors Hospital and underwent surgery on his vertebrae after suffering the injury when he was helping with one of the training drills at the Winton Rugby Centre.

In an attempt to protect an injured shoulder from impact, it was reported that Neville - an avid rugby fan who practices regularly with the squad - lowered his head shortly before contact with another player, resulting in him suffering a ‘jammed’ neck. 

A lawyer with Graham Thompson, Neville remains hospitalised in Florida.

Those interested in playing the tip pool should email damianeuro16@hotmail.com for an entry form and information on future ventures. The entry fee is $50.

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