GRIEVING Wembley FC players and officials have launched an appeal to raise money for the family of their former youth international goalkeeper Raheem ‘Birdie’ Belgrave, who drowned while on holiday in his native Trinidad last Sunday.
Local reports said that Belgave, 29, was swimming in the Paria River in Blanchisseuse, about 30 miles from the island’s capital Port of Spain, and hit his head when he jumped into a pool of water. He was pulled out by fellow members of a hiking group but was found to be unresponsive.
Belgrave, the son of former Trinidad and Tobago national team manager David Muhammad, played for the country’s under 17 squad in 2008-9.
He joined Combined Counties outfit Wembley from Trinidad side Queen’s Park in 2018.
A statement from the Premier Division North club said: “We are shocked and saddened and send our condolences to his family and closest friends.
“Raheem was a great ambassador for the club, a great player but an even greater individual, a true Lion.”
A GoFundMe page set up by Wembley teammate Tafari Rowan Larrington to raise money for his family has raised more than two thirds of the initial £1,500 target.
Larrington said: “Raheem was a great goalkeeper and an even better individual, with whom we had the privilege to say we knew him.
“We would like to show our appreciation of all his hard work both here and back in his home Trinidad.”
Several clubs expressed their sadness on social media. A statement from Potton United said: “Thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. We had the privilege of him playing at The Hollow in September 2020. He was the catalyst in his team winning on the day.”
