On 14th November 2002, in Vià±a del Mar, Chile, René Orlando Meléndez Brito, the greatest player in Everton Chile’s history, died of a brain tumour, aged 74. Although born in 1928, the year William Ralph Dean established himself as one of the greatest forwards of all time, René had more in common with Dave Hickson, not only a contemporary of his but also the owner of a magnificent quiff.
The tragedy of René’s death was compounded by the inability of his family to pay for his funeral. This galvanised his former colleagues to club together to cover the costs. At the same time they agreed that this situation would never again occur with a former player of the Club. The formed the Agrupacià³n Ex Jugadores Profesionales Everton (Association of Former Everton Professional Players) with the initial objective of acquiring a mausoleum where they could all be buried. As in many catholic cultures, people are laid to rest in tiered niches – the structure built would represent the blue / yellow and blue of the Everton shirt.
The Association is now planning to build their own centre – where they hope to establish a museum, canteen and dormitory, where visiting former players can be housed. The foundations have been laid and work on the building is about to start. Those players still able, work in the community teaching football skills to young players as well as playing benefit matches for local causes. There is no other organisation like this in Chile and the impact it is having in the local community is significant and is to be applauded.
Parallels with the Everton Former Players Foundation
This initiative echoes Everton FC's own Former Players Association, founded in 1999 by Dr David France wh identified the need to alleviate the medical and other concerns of the Toffees' former players, and with the support of Brian Labone Everton former player and Club Captain and lawyer Norman Jones, established the Everton Former-Players’ Foundation as a registered UK charity.
It was one of the first organisations of its kind in the world and ensured that any former player who has made one competitive appearance for Everton Football Club qualified for help. Under the direction of Chairman Laurence Lee and his Trustees, the Former-Players’ Foundation has gone from strength to strength and built an organisation which is seen as a model for other football clubs throughout Europe.
How you can contribute
The Ruleteros Society launched the Foreign Collection Fund prior to the Premier League match against Leicester at st Luke's in late February, and the collection box will stay until next season. Evertonians are a well-travelled group and must have small amounts of currency laying around and it could benefit a great cause to help ex-players from our sister club in Chile.
Evertoniana and author James Corbett has kindly donated a limited number of his World Cup books to the foreign currency fund. Retailing at £18.99, the Rulteros Society are selling them for just £10 at St Luke's with proceeds to be split between both former players associations.
For more information about the Ruleteros Society, you can follow them on Twitter or visit their Facebook page.
1 Posted 03/03/2015 at 23:38:34