On a night of football, it was emotion that took centre stage as Brimscombe & Thrupp FC and Stonehouse Town came together to pay tribute to Tom Shearman’s family, who tragically lost their lives in a house fire in Brimscombe on Boxing Day.
Ahead of the game, players and supporters held a minute’s silence in their honour and contributed to a fundraising effort to help Tom rebuild his life. The campaign has now raised over £400,000, with donations still being welcomed by clicking the link HERE .
On the pitch, Adam Coyle’s Stonehouse took the lead through red-hot striker Harley Hudd. Brimscombe netted parity through recent Highworth Town signing Xavi Diaz-Butcher. Former Brimscombe legend Karl Nash saw red late on for the Magpies.
Brimscombe boss Tim Bond praised the 265-strong crowd braving a chilly evening at the Meadow: “It was a phenomenal turnout and a fantastic reflection of our club, our players, and our community. Most importantly, the evening helped raise funds in support of a tragic event, putting football firmly into perspective. We felt it was only right to observe a minute’s silence to show our solidarity with Tom, his friends, and his family.”
Reflecting on the match, Bond added: “Turning to the football, it was a strong performance from us, particularly in the first half. There was no escaping the fact that this was a local derby, and in the reverse fixture we didn’t represent ourselves in the way we know we can. That edge and determination was clear last night, and we could have gone comfortably ahead before the break.
“Despite our dominance, we found ourselves trailing, but the response from the players was excellent. Some high-quality football and intricate play saw us hit back quickly, and we went into half-time deservedly level.
“The second half proved more challenging as conditions deteriorated and the pitch began to freeze. This made the game scrappier and limited opportunities for both sides, with neither team doing quite enough to claim all three points.
“Overall, it was a positive performance, even if the result didn’t quite reflect it. There are plenty of encouraging signs to take forward, and it provides a platform we must continue to build on as we move into the second half of the season.”
Meanwhile, Stonehouse player-assistant Karl Nash, returning to his old stomping ground, felt his red card was harsh: “A tough point earned in tricky conditions. They started the sharper of the two sides and had a couple of half chances early on. We took around 20 minutes to find our rhythm, but once we did and finally got the ball to Harley Hudd, he made it count—firing us into the lead.
“Just as we were thinking about seeing the half out, Brimmy capitalised on a short clearance. Their man was clean through one-on-one and slotted home, sending us in level at 1–1 at the break.
“The second half had the feel of a typical Christmas-period game. With the conditions worsening, there wasn’t much flow, and clear-cut chances were at a premium for both sides. It always looked like it might finish as a draw… until I managed to make things interesting.”
On his sending-off, Nash said: “Subbed on in the 87th minute, sent off in the 95th. Very soft in my opinion—I bundled the lad over, nearly jumped over him, and my trailing leg caught him. Shouts of ‘stamp’ echoed around the pitch… I beg to differ! Still, a point apiece was probably a fair result on a bitterly cold Friday night under the lights.”
Nash also praised Brimscombe for their handling of the tragedy: “It was incredibly moving to see players, staff, and supporters come together to show their utmost respect for Tom and his family. An absolute tragedy, handled with real class. Full credit to Brimscombe—doing the village proud and showing exactly what kind of club they are.”
Brimscombe & Thrupp: Wood, Jones, Toop, Piatek, Dainton, Saunders, Love, Moore, Bradbury, Eakers, Diaz-Butcher
Subs: Hall, Marks, Blackford, Peachey-Score, Griffiths
Stonehouse: Clark, Rees, Martin, Turner, Rich Thwaite, Ryan Thwaite, Haswell, Kibble, Gayner, Beadle, Hudd
Subs: Walters, Dare, Byrnes, Nash, Bainbridge
