AFC Bournemouth legend John Williams part of group aiding Ukraine

Initially becoming a daily topic of conversation across the world, widespread efforts were being made to provide funds, supplies and refuge to the victims.

But as time has gone by since February 2022, so has some of the media coverage.

One man doing all he can to keep Ukraine in the thoughts of as many people as possible is Simon Cable.

The Ferndown resident and big Cherries fan set up the group Cherries Aid for Ukraine when the war first broke out, making his first trip over to Ukraine a few weeks later to do what he could to help after seeing the harrowing scenes on television.

Towards the end of 2023, he was making his sixth trip to Ukraine, where he was also joined by Cherries legend John Williams.

Affectionately known as ‘Willo’, the BBC Solent co-commentator has been part of three trips with Cable.

“I’ve known Willo since he first moved down from Port Vale,” Cable explained to the Daily Echo.

“I was having trials with the first team for Bournemouth, under Harry Redknapp. I had been knocking some goals in local football for Ringwood and he said ‘do you want to come and have a look?’.

“I was training with the first team and it was the week we played Southampton in the League Cup, away. We drew there, but beat them 1-0 at home the previous week.

“It was only light training, but with the first team, so I met Willo, Paul Morrell, Cookie (Richard Cooke) and people like that.

“I’d go to watch all the games as well. I was 19, so 36 years ago. We’ve been friends ever since.

“We have lots in common obviously with the club. I’ve had a season ticket for years so I used to see him before and after games.”

Asked how long he had been following Cherries, Cable said: “I moved down to West Moors from London when I was about two.

“My dad said he better go and meet a few locals, so he went to the pub, came back and said he was going to the football tomorrow and he took me with him.

“We had season tickets there from 1970-71. We’ve been lifelong supporters, so it meant a lot to me when I got trials there with Harry.

“It was difficult, because I was trying to displace people like David Puckett and Trevor Aylott, who were like my heroes as centre-forwards. I didn’t want to put a tackle in, in case I hurt someone!

“I was never at their level, but it was so good to meet Willo and we’ve been very close ever since.”

He added: “I was working in London as a computer engineer at the time and was earning more than any of the guys that were in the first team at Bournemouth!

“So that was the end of it (football).

“I did actually come on in a charity match against Reading for 14 minutes, held at the old Dean Court. That was 10 years after my trial, so the longest from trial to actually playing!

“They never invited me back to play again, so I obviously made a great impression!”

While he never made it on the pitch, Cable’s love of Cherries continues and, in his efforts to support Ukraine, he has also been spreading the word of the club.

“I haven’t been to watch Bournemouth for the last 18 months, because I know what a ticket costs and what that money could do in Ukraine,” he said.

“I still listen to Willo every game!

“The mayor of Sokal has a signed Bournemouth shirt we gave to him on a trip.

“Rob Mitchell (Cherries commercial director) got it sorted for us to take over there.

“In his office now in Ukraine is a signed Bournemouth shirt on the wall.”

Sokal is one of many places Cable has visited in the country, taking vanloads of supplies and even staying a night in an underground bunker in Kyiv.

Cherries Aid for Ukraine work with a number of other groups across the south coast to ensure continual supplies are being provided, including Swanage & Wareham Rugby Club, New Forest for Ukraine, Heroes Don’t Wear Capes as well as other groups in Southampton and Weymouth.

While the football dream did not last too long, Cable’s work in telecoms has proved particularly useful for the effort to support Ukraine.

“They are really good where I work,” said Cable.

“I’d used all my holiday but they gave me five extra days so I could go back to Ukraine.

“They’ve been really supportive with the charity and been helping me send tech stuff out there like old mobile phones to take with me.

“One of the local companies gave us 1,000 wireless access points to take out there.

“One of the things that was key for me was communications to families across there who have been displaced all over the country.

“With infrastructure down, we’ve put generators in, we’ve put battery backups and wi-fi throughout the schools and hospitals and local community buildings. In one van we took over £45,000 worth of tech.”

On the list of supplies needed currently are warm clothing and hand warmers, with temperatures in Ukraine currently plummeting to below minus 10 degrees Celsius.

“We’re desperate for fundraising, because it’s not as much in the news anymore,” said Cable.

“I was looking on the BBC News website and there’s nothing on the front page anymore. I’m getting updates and calls from Ukraine every night.

“One of the most important jobs is keeping it in people’s minds. They feel forgotten about.

“They want to feel we’re with them. They always say ‘Simon, if you come with no aid, just to show you care, it would mean such a lot’ to the Army, to the people, to the mayor, to the whole communities over there.

“I get calls every day saying what they need or where the last bomb landed.

“We’ll be going again as soon as the weather and funds permit.

“We’re still getting deliveries through, because we deal with lots of different groups up and down the coast. It’s a real lovely community we’ve got of volunteers.”

Asked what Willo is like as a travel partner, Cable said: “Willo rang me up and said ‘don’t leave without me’.

“He was already a hero in my eyes being a footballer, this is different level for his bravery to do that. I was so proud of him.

“He’s a great character. Last time we went, we didn’t stop driving until 11 o’clock at night in horrendous weather conditions.

“But just to keep you concentrated and keep your mind from drifting to the dangers of it, we did a football quiz, naming the A-Z of Bournemouth players.

“He’s full of entertainment. He never stops talking about football, which is brilliant for me, because I’m the same.”

Cable was also keen to give thanks to somebody else for their efforts.

“Janusz Gorski, he met us at the border. He’s from New Milton, but has lived in Ukraine before,” Cable explained.

“He flew straight out there and said he needed to help. When we got there, we didn’t know who to talk to or what to do.

“He met us at the border and was our translator. He’s been a part of us ever since and is a director of our company.

“He has introduced us to a lot of aid charities all over Ukraine.”

The Aid to Ukraine fundraising page set up by Cable now has donations totalling over £7,000, while the group have also created a Limited Company, allowing companies to set donations directly to a bank account and receive receipts.

“If 1,000 people put £1 in, it is often better than one person putting £1,000 in, because it is a shared burden and more people can take pride in what we’ve done say they’ve made a difference,” said Cable.

“That is what it’s about, keeping Ukraine in people’s minds.

“A few pounds can make such a difference over there.

“Keeping it in the spotlight is key.”

For more information, contact unitedvolunteersaid@gmail.com