BOY FOOTBALLER DIES

Press, Volume C, Issue 29620, 16 September 1961, Page 13

BOY FOOTBALLER DIES

Gesture By French Team (N.Z. Press Association) DUNEDIN. Sept. 15. One of Dunedin’s keenest footballers died this week after an illness of several months. He was 14-year-old Keith Wilson, who had become a “pal” of members of the French Rugby team. Keith’s last weeks were brightened still further when he received a surprise letter from the New Zealand fullback. Don Clarke.

A pupil of King’s High School, Keith also played schoolboy Rugby for the Pirates club. He was a patient of the Dunedin Public Hospital for several months and lost a limb. In the last few months he had been nursed at his home. A city traffic officer and friend tried hard to organise a visit to Carisbrook for Keith to see the FranceOtago match. A taxi firm offered free transport but after three attempts the boy found the effort too great and listened to the broadcast commentary. After the game the traffic officer visited the French team's hotel, and the Englishspeaking Gilbert Meyer and his team-mate. J. Pique, decided to visit Keith immediately. They presented him with a lapel badge and took his autograph book for the signatures and a message from all the team.