Stevenage boss Steve Evans hails families' courage and applauds Blackpool and Boro fans backing grief-stricken sisters as League One clash with Reading looms at the Lamex
League One: Stevenage vs Reading
Steve Evans has hailed the bravery of Ollie Gatfield's and Liam Sharpe's families following a deeply moving tribute to the pair before Stevenage's victory over Blackpool on Saturday.
With Evans' in-form team set to host relegation-threatened Reading at the Lamex tonight (Tuesday, February 6) hopes are high of Boro claiming another important victory in their hunt for promotion to the Championship.
With Jake Forster-Caskey's late winner on Saturday sealing a vital victory for promotion-chasing Boro, the scene is set for another vital League One clash this evening against the Biscuitment from Berkshire.
Saturday's pre-match speech given by Liam's courageous sisters Sophie and Holly Sharpe - which saw the pair battle through their grief, aided by the support of both sets of fans present in the 5,014 crowd - underlined the backing that the town and Stevenage FC have given the devastated families.
Ollie sadly lost his life in a car accident on the way back from supporting Stevenage at a game last month, while pal Liam is still currently in hospital with injuries sustained in the fatal incident.
When speaking to Nub News, even teak-tough Scot Evans was visibly moved by the inspirational pair.
Choking with emotion in a bid to find the right words, the respected Stevenage boss spoke, simply saying: "I'm 62 this year and it almost breaks you when your heard her voice break [during Sophie and Holly's powerful tribute to the pair].
"I had to keep my emotions in check. During the first 10/15 minutes of the game, I didn't move. I was thinking about her words as I was choking a little bit.
"I also have to say huge, huge praise to both sets of supporters at the game including the Blackpool fans, who showed what they're about when they burst into a round of applause when she choked a little bit during her speech, as the Stevenage supporters then joined in.
"That's class."
The club and the town have rallied round to help the stricken families after the tragic Hitchin crash that killed 19-year-old Ollie, and left his pal Liam in hospital with life-changing injuries.
Evans and his team have also showed empathy and solidarity, with the Boro boss underling the support by explaining: "The chairman, Stuart [Dinsey] and the board and all our staff were so very shocked when we heard the news.
"I must admit upon getting a call from our media team on the Sunday morning after the win at Shrewsbury [to inform them of the fatal crash] I looked to the heavens.
"I'm a big believer in God. But I said: 'come on God, what are you doing?
"This is a 19-year-old boy with his whole life in front of him and his mate who is in critical. What are you doing. He's took Ollie away far too soon.
"Hopefully he'll look down and say: 'Come on Liam, you get better son, get back to the Lamex and cheer your team on.
"I said to the players before the game, the last thing I said to them, was 'win today, because we've got a young lad up there [in the heavens] desperately wanting us to win.
"And if someone helped us win against Blackpool, it was Ollie."
Nub News will be reporting from Stevenage v Reading. Like/Follow us on Facebook for the latest news
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