In 2017, local footballer Jason Connolly was playing an over-35s soccer match with the St Marys Band Club Rangers when, after the match, he started to feel unwell.
On his way home, driving along Old Windsor Road near the famous Ettamogah pub, he suffered a fatal heart attack at just 46-years-old.
Connolly’s shock death saddened the entire Nepean football community, which couldn’t quite grasp how a healthy and fit father of two could die after a simple game of soccer.
“I knew Jason quite well, I was one of his good mates. He was a lovable larrikin on and off the field and a lot of people warmed to him,” Chris Minol told the Weekender.
Just months after Connolly’s tragic passing, Minol along with a group of mates decided to put together a fundraiser for his young family called the Jason Connolly Memorial Cup. The one-day football tournament, which was held at Blacktown City Sports Centre, was a huge success, raising thousands of dollars for Connolly’s children.
“We raised a significant amount of money, which was put into a trust fund for his two kids,” Minol said.
“Jason’s parents were blown away by everyone’s generosity, but they said in regards to future tournaments that the money should be donated to a charity instead of the kids, who will be looked after.
“So, I wanted to keep the tournament going in Jason’s honour and decided that Heartbeat of Football would be the ideal charity to donate all the proceeds to.”
Heartbeat of Football promotes healthy hearts in sport through awareness and free heart checks at sporting matches. The Jason Connolly Memorial Cup continues to be a raging success, raising more than $75,000 for Heartbeat of Football.
The most recent tournament was held earlier this month, with nine teams of middle-aged males battling it out for the perpetual trophy – an encased football boot worn by Connolly on the night of his death.
“It’s a five-a-side tournament utilising small fields, unlimited interchange and shorter games,” Minol said.
“The money we raise doesn’t just go to heart health awareness, but it also goes to funding nurses from the Victor Chang Cardiac Institute to come out and administer free heart health checks at local clubs for players and spectators.”
The free heart health checks have been a godsend already, saving countless of Aussie blokes including Minol himself.
“Following my heart check at the tournament, my mum suggested that I go get a general health check up from the GP and I’m lucky I did because my blood tests showed that I had very high cholesterol – the artery clogger,” Minol said.
“Further tests showed I had a significant blockage in my heart and I was told to adjust my lifestyle and begin taking medication.
“The following year I went back to the doctor because I wasn’t feeling well and they found a ‘widow-maker’ and I was told I was one stressful event from a fatal heart attack.
“I ended up having a triple bypass at 44 and I’m very, very lucky I did because other people don’t live to tell the tale… my friend Jason didn’t.”
Nathan Taylor
Nathan Taylor is the Weekender's Deputy Editor and Senior Sports Writer. He also compiles the weekly Chatter on the Box TV column. Nathan is an award-winning journalist, who has worked at the Weekender for a decade.