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Vicarage Road match held in memory of one-year-old Watford girl

Vienna Belle Wigg/ Vienna's family. <i>(Image: Dani Cornelius)</i>
Vienna Belle Wigg/ Vienna's family. (Image: Dani Cornelius)

A Watford girl who passed away at just 15-months old has been remembered at a Vicarage Road charity match.

Oxhey Jets Vets took on Vienna FC, a team made up of friends and family, in honour and memory of Vienna Belle Wigg on Friday, May 3.

Vienna, described as a "fantastic" girl who was "a little bit cheeky and daring with the most beautiful smile", sadly died on November 4, 2022, after being cared for at Watford General Hospital and St Mary’s Hospital.

Watford Observer: Vienna Belle Wigg.
Watford Observer: Vienna Belle Wigg.

Vienna Belle Wigg. (Image: Dani Cornelius)

The close-fought memorial match raised funds for Cosmic Charity, which is particularly important to mum Laura and dad Carl as it supports the children’s and neonatal intensive care units at St Mary’s and Queen Charlotte’s Hospitals.

It finished 5-3 to Vienna FC after Vienna’s four-year-old brother, Vinnie, came on with 10 minutes to go and scored the final goal.

Watford Observer: Vienna's mum Laura Wigg, dad Carl Wigg, brother Vinnie Wigg, and sister Violet Wigg.
Watford Observer: Vienna's mum Laura Wigg, dad Carl Wigg, brother Vinnie Wigg, and sister Violet Wigg.

Vienna's mum Laura Wigg, dad Carl Wigg, brother Vinnie Wigg, and sister Violet Wigg. (Image: Dani Cornelius)

The event raised £1,025 for Cosmic to help the charity purchase state of the art equipment for the NHS hospitals, provide training for health professionals, fund research, and offer support for more families including advice, counselling, and accommodation for parents.

The help it has offered the South Oxhey family over the past 18-months has been “amazing”, they said.

Watford Observer: Vinnie and Carl celebrate together.
Watford Observer: Vinnie and Carl celebrate together.

Vinnie and Carl celebrate together. (Image: Dani Cornelius)

Vienna’s family added: “We are so very thankful to all those who helped make the evening a success, firstly thanking all those at Watford Football Club for their amazing hospitality.

“Also, a huge thank you to Prism DCS Ltd for sponsoring Vienna FC and providing their kit, and finally a massive thank you to all those who took time out to come along, whether to play or to show their support to the players and family.”

Watford Observer: Vinnie Wigg celebrates his goal.
Watford Observer: Vinnie Wigg celebrates his goal.

Vinnie Wigg celebrates his goal. (Image: Dani Cornelius)

Vienna FC's opponents, Oxhey Jets FC, where Carl Wigg was a former player, were described as a bedrock of the South Oxhey community and thanked for their constant support.

As well as Vinnie’s goal, Connor Smith scored twice for Vienna FC, with Adam Lowton and Lee Armitt also on the scoresheet for the winning side. Georgie O’Mara scored twice for Oxhey Jets and Gary Page scored once.

Donations to Cosmic can be made online at https://cosmiccharity.org.uk/ .

Watford Observer: Vienna FC.
Watford Observer: Vienna FC.

Vienna FC. (Image: Dani Cornelius)

Watford Observer: Oxhey Jets Vets.
Watford Observer: Oxhey Jets Vets.

Oxhey Jets Vets. (Image: Dani Cornelius)