AN NHS worker and grassroots football boss who gave a helping hand to David Beckham and John Terry has died from the coronavirus.
Jermaine Wright, who was one of the main organisers of the Hackney Marshes matches in East London, died just days after he turned 46.
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He worked in a hospital pharmacy, and devoted most of his spare time to helping young footballers and refereeing matches.
League officials paid tribute to an “extraordinary” human being who was known as “Mr Hackney Marshes”.
Jermaine was the vice-chairman of the Hackney and Leyton Sunday Football league – which has its home on Hackney Marshes.
It’s described as the spiritual home of English Sunday league football, and helped kickstart the career of Beckham, Terry, and also Sol Campbell and Ian Wright.
Stars such as Lionel Messi and Eric Cantona have filmed commercials on the pitches which started hosting football in 1946.
Dino Constantinou, who ran the league’s website, said: “I often joked with Jermaine did he actually ever sleep.
“A man who not only worked full-time for the NHS but also worked tirelessly every day with the league.
“He lived for football, his huge obsessive passion being grassroots football and our beloved Hackney and Leyton Football League.
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“But Jermaine was not just someone who dedicated himself to our league.
“More than that he was an extraordinary human being.
“A man graced with spirit, soul, a zest for life and an unflinching ability to want to help people, often before himself.
“Jermaine simply put was Mr Hackney Marshes as said by so many.
“Everyone at the Hackney Marshes will always remember Jermaine for his beaming smile, his welcoming demeanour and ability to go out of his way for anyone.
“These are the traits that mark the true man, his willingness to put others before him.”
Jermaine was sent home from work at the NHS in the middle of March after showing symptoms of Covid-19.
He was self-isolating for 14 days.
The non-league hero was admitted to Royal Brompton Hospital, in Chelsea, West London, on March 25, four days after his 46th birthday.
He tragically lost his battle with Covid-19 on Monday April 27.
More than £6,000 has been raised for Jermaine’s family through a fundraising page.
Hundreds of people took to social media to post tributes to Jermaine.
Sean Preston said: “People who instinctively do things for other people are so rare.
“Jermaine Wright was just that. Joy of a man.”
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