Footballer 'enjoying life again' one year after death of fiancee
BRAVE Hucknall Town defender Jay Smedley says he is "enjoying life" again – almost exactly a year after a terrible tragedy left him heartbroken.
On Christmas Day 2008, Smedley's fiancee, Natasha Jackson, was killed in a tragic car-accident, leaving the defender "in pieces".
They were planning to marry and were looking forward to buying their first house together.
Natasha (21), of Beaumont Green, Groby, Leicestershire, was driving her red Vauxhall Corsa along the A46 near Kinoulton in the Vale Of Belvoir when it collided head-on with a silver Nissan Acenta, driven by an American visitor, at about 2.50 pm.
Firefighters cut her free and she was airlifted by helicopter to the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham. But she died soon afterwards of multiple injuries.
Smedley, who had been with Natasha for two years, was distraught. Football became of secondary importance.
But now, with remarkable resolve for a 22-year-old, he says he has turned his life around.
And he is also determined to make himself available for selection for The Yellows' trip to Worksop Town on Boxing Day this weekend – a day after the first anniversary of Natasha's death.
"I am possibly going away on a pre-booked holiday," said Smedley, who lives in Nottingham.
"I need to talk to manager Bryan Chambers about that. But if I am not, then I am totally committed to playing on Boxing Day.
"In my eyes, I am totally over it. I have moved on with my life and I have met different people.
"There is no point living in the past. I have a new job and new friends in Leeds, where I work regularly.
"I am going out and enjoying myself. I am getting on with my life. I am not dwelling on the past.
"I still miss Natasha. I was with her for two years. But the best thing I can do, without sounding harsh, is to forget.
"And hopefully, I will meet someone else."
Smedley, whose new job is selling personal injury insurance, admitted football, and in particular Hucknall Town, have played a big role in getting his life back on track – although only Chambers, captain Laurie Wilson and full-back Dion Meikle are still at the club from last December.
Smedley was given as much time to grieve as he needed after Natasha's death. He made his comeback in Town's Notts FA Senior Cup win at Dunkirk on February 10.
"Football has been one of the most important things," said Smedley. "And doing well with Town is certainly helping as well.
"At the time of the accident, the lads just left me to it. They left me to do what I needed to do. But getting back to playing football was one of the most important things."
Smedley had made 17 appearances (plus five as substitute) last season before Natasha's death. He made a further six starts and five sub appearances before leaving Watnall Road for King's Lynn in the summer.
But he returned to The Yellows in October and has even scored three rare goals this term, including a double in Town's 7-1 thrashing of Durham City last month.
He added: "My friends, family and everyone at the club have been really good.
" I came back to Hucknall because I still have a lot of friends here, and the travelling to King's Lynn was becoming too much.
"No-one at Hucknall has mentioned the anniversary yet. But Bryan Chambers has been brilliant and rings me every now and then for a chat. He has been supportive."
THE DRIVER involved in the death-crash, Martyn Crew (53), was jailed for 14 months in July after pleading guilty to careless or inconsiderate driving.
Crew, of San Francisco, had hired the car after a ten-hour flight from the United States to London's Heathrow Airport, which landed on Christmas morning. He was driving to Lincolnshire to see his mother.
Two of his children, aged 11 and four, were also in the car.
When the case came before court, Judge Dudley Bennett: "I am sure the defendant momentarily nodded off and then, coming to, he over-corrected the line his vehicle was taking."
As well as the 14 months, Crew was banned from driving for five years and must take an extended test before he drives again.
Last month, Crew's driving ban was reduced to two years on appeal. However an appeal to cut his prison term was rejected.
He made a further six starts and five sub appearances before leaving Watnall Road for King’s Lynn in the summer.
But he returned to The Yellows in October and has even scored three rare goals this term, including a double in Town’s 7-1 thrashing of Durham City last month.
He added: “My friends, family and everyone at the club have been really good.
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“ I came back to Hucknall because I still have a lot of friends here, and the travelling to King’s Lynn was becoming too much.
“No-one at Hucknall has mentioned the anniversary yet. But Bryan Chambers has been brilliant and rings me every now and then for a chat. He has been supportive.”
n THE DRIVER involved in the death-crash, Martyn Crew (53), was jailed for 14 months in July after pleading guilty to careless or inconsiderate driving.
Crew, of San Francisco, had hired the car after a ten-hour flight from the United States to London’s Heathrow Airport, which landed on Christmas morning. He was driving to Lincolnshire to see his mother. Two of his children, aged 11 and four, were also in the car.
When the case came before court, Judge Dudley Bennett: “I am sure the defendant momentarily nodded off and then, coming to, he over-corrected the line his vehicle was taking.”
As well as the 14 months, Crew was banned from driving for five years and must take an extended test before he drives again.
Last month, Crew’s driving ban was reduced to two years on appeal. However an appeal to cut his prison term was rejected.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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