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Ex-serviceman overcomes struggles and gives back by volunteering at Bedworth United
An ex-serviceman hopes to give back to the people who helped him overcome his addiction - by devoting his time to Bedworth United Football Club.
Despite moving away from his childhood club to Liverpool, Kevin Moore still makes the five-hour round trip to Bedworth, in Warwickshire, every matchday.
Over the years, he has been involved in stadium announcements, refereeing, security and car parking among many other jobs.
“I’ve done pretty much everything involved in matchday apart from the turnstiles,” Moore said.
“The person who has been doing the turnstiles has been doing it for around 15 years so I don’t want to take their job!
“I’ve even jumped on games before when a referee or official has gone off injured.”
Moore’s connection with the club, which play in the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands, goes back to when he was a young boy.
“When we were bunking off school, we used to play on the field,” he said.
“My footballing career ended quite early, so I took up refereeing. I did my first adult game as a 14-year-old.
“From that, I’ve followed the club through a lot of thick and thin - through bankruptcy and internal strife. I even followed it when I was in the military.”
Moore served in the army for six years, but when he left, he struggled with alcohol addiction.
Despite pushing people away, those at the club - namely Neill Rayson-Randle, Alan Ison and Polly Ison - continued trying to help Moore.
“I’m really grateful to Neill, Alan and Polly,” he added. “They all stood by me when I decided to try and turn my life around.
“It’s an honour to try to give something back to the club to say thank you.
“Being truly gut-wrenchingly honest, it feels like a debt that I can never repay fully so I just do my best.”
Moore is now six years sober and lives in Liverpool, working at Tom Harrison House, the same rehab centre for armed forces veterans he attended in 2018.
This makes his commute to Bedworth a five-hour round trip, but he believes the journey is worthwhile.
“It’s a pleasure to be a part of,” he added. “Over the last decade, Neil and Alan have changed the club and it’s now a family-friendly caring atmosphere and a wonderful community.
“There wasn’t even a kids’ team there when I was younger.
“We are all brothers from another mother!”
Moore is one of countless volunteers who play integral roles at non-league clubs across the country, with opportunities to get involved now available through the Pitching In Volunteer Hub.
Through entering their postcode, individuals can locate volunteering opportunities at nearby clubs and discover more details about which roles are available.
“If you don’t have volunteers, the club will die,” Moore added. “It’s not just on matchdays, but you've got to keep the stadium clean, look after the ground, have managers for kids’ teams, the list goes on.
“It’s not just me as a volunteer, there’s loads of us. So for me, I’m not doing anything special.”
To find volunteering opportunities near you, see: pitchinginvolunteers.co.uk
Over the years, he has been involved in stadium announcements, refereeing, security and car parking among many other jobs.
“I’ve done pretty much everything involved in matchday apart from the turnstiles,” Moore said.
“The person who has been doing the turnstiles has been doing it for around 15 years so I don’t want to take their job!
“I’ve even jumped on games before when a referee or official has gone off injured.”
Moore’s connection with the club, which play in the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands, goes back to when he was a young boy.
“When we were bunking off school, we used to play on the field,” he said.
“My footballing career ended quite early, so I took up refereeing. I did my first adult game as a 14-year-old.
“From that, I’ve followed the club through a lot of thick and thin - through bankruptcy and internal strife. I even followed it when I was in the military.”
Moore served in the army for six years, but when he left, he struggled with alcohol addiction.
Despite pushing people away, those at the club - namely Neill Rayson-Randle, Alan Ison and Polly Ison - continued trying to help Moore.
“I’m really grateful to Neill, Alan and Polly,” he added. “They all stood by me when I decided to try and turn my life around.
“It’s an honour to try to give something back to the club to say thank you.
“Being truly gut-wrenchingly honest, it feels like a debt that I can never repay fully so I just do my best.”
Moore is now six years sober and lives in Liverpool, working at Tom Harrison House, the same rehab centre for armed forces veterans he attended in 2018.
This makes his commute to Bedworth a five-hour round trip, but he believes the journey is worthwhile.
“It’s a pleasure to be a part of,” he added. “Over the last decade, Neil and Alan have changed the club and it’s now a family-friendly caring atmosphere and a wonderful community.
“There wasn’t even a kids’ team there when I was younger.
“We are all brothers from another mother!”
Moore is one of countless volunteers who play integral roles at non-league clubs across the country, with opportunities to get involved now available through the Pitching In Volunteer Hub.
Through entering their postcode, individuals can locate volunteering opportunities at nearby clubs and discover more details about which roles are available.
“If you don’t have volunteers, the club will die,” Moore added. “It’s not just on matchdays, but you've got to keep the stadium clean, look after the ground, have managers for kids’ teams, the list goes on.
“It’s not just me as a volunteer, there’s loads of us. So for me, I’m not doing anything special.”
To find volunteering opportunities near you, see: pitchinginvolunteers.co.uk
