Plans are in the pipeline to establish a scholarship fund to help offset schooling costs for future generations of football players and to stage an annual match honouring the memory of late Dandy Town defender Randy Swan.

While the St.John?s Road club continue to come to grips with the loss of a team-mate, close friend and much-liked young member of the community, Western Stars Club president Cal Blankendal said it was important to try to make something ?positive? happen from ?negative situation?.

Swan, 23, was removed from a life-support machine after sustaining massive head injuries in a car crash last month.

Following Town?s Champions Cup triumph over Devonshire Cougars last Sunday, club officials donated a significant portion of their winnings towards Swan?s funeral costs while the remaining funds will go towards the new scholarship initiative aimed at helping future Hornets players seeking to further their studies either locally or overseas.

?The majority of those earnings (Champions Cup) are to help offset costs for Randy?s funeral and we now hope to establish a scholarship fund honouring his name which will be managed by a bank,? Blankendal explained.

The Western Stars chief was behind a previous scholarship scheme from which Swan benefited during his studies at Bermuda College.

?At the time I was the youth director at the club and through a generous donation we were able to use those funds to assist Randy in his studies,? explained Blankendal.

?And Randy successfully graduated from Bermuda College and was accepted into school overseas. So that demonstrated to us that even with minor funding it is still possible to go a long way.?

There are now others who want to donate to the cause.

?We have already received a few calls from individuals interested in donating funds towards this and also one of Randy?s former employers has expressed an interest in assisting,? added Blankendal, who encouraged others to come forward and help.

?It?s important we try to make something positive out of a sad and negative situation,? he said.

Swan?s football jersey, number 16, has already been retired and there are plans to have Town?s Premier Division squad play against the the club?s Commercial Division team, Dandy Town Roots on an annual basis for a cup honouring the late player.

With Hornets, the current FA Cup champions, already ousted from this season?s tournament, Blankendal suggested the Town versus Roots contest could be staged on an FA Cup weekend and then be possibly held thereafter in December.

?I would personally like to see our Premier team play against our Commercial team as Randy was a part of our Premier team who always liked to tease the Commercial team players,?said Blankendal.

?That particular match could be used as a charity fund raiser in which part proceeds could go towards the scholarship fund and even a certain percentage of gate receipts from matches could go in aid of the same cause.

?It?s important we try and make something positive out of this situation to ensure Randy?s legacy lives on. When you look back on Randy?s life, he was a positive person who overcame great odds and that in turn has helped the club deal with his loss while at the same time continue to persevere.?

Town return to action on Sunday with a Friendship Trophy quarter-final match against North Village at the Barn with the eventual winners drawn to meet PHC Zebras in the competition?s second semi-final on February 2 at a venue still to be determined.

The original match, scheduled for November 21, had been postponed due to the Island?s involvement in the Digicel Cup tournament in St.Vincent.

So far Hornets and Village have clashed on four occasions this season with the Reds emerging victorious three times, including last November?s Martonmere Cup final.

Devonshire Cougars and Boulevard will lock horns in the first Friendship semi-final next Tuesday night at a venue to be announced.