By Corey Everitt
Soccer communities across Victoria’s south-eastern suburbs are uniting to honour the memory of a beloved player who tragically lost his life following a training session.
20-year-old Jeremias Sprague was doing what he loves, attending training with his teammates and friends on 14 December 2023, but, sadly, he never made it home.
He suffered a fatal heart attack while cooling down.
Not a day goes by where his family doesn’t think about its beloved ‘Jem’.
“He was a good kid; he loved people and would always put others first,” Jem’s father Laurie Sprague said.
“On his mirror at home, he set his goals, which were to be a good person, make new friends but keep great friends.”
To honour Jem’s memory, Pakenham United Soccer Club along with Liam Wolstenholme, from Conditioned For Football, will host the inaugural Jeremias Sprague Memorial Cup on Saturday, celebrating the young coach’s life and passion for the sport.
“It started when he was young, he was focused on being the hardest working person in the room, even training in the rain,” Mr Sprague said.
“He was passionate about football; always playing it, thinking about it, strategising… he just loved it.”
Jem was a star on and off the field, playing in Spain and on the Victorian Squad, but it was his passion for helping young players that stood out.
“He was always kicking the ball after training with the kids and would go out of his way to make sure everyone felt included and had a go,” Mr Sprague said.
Jem’s encouragement and passion is now his legacy. Money raised by fundraising efforts at the Jeremias Sprague Memorial Cup will go towards sponsoring young players’ academy fees.
Victorian Squad Captain and Jem’s former teammate, Liam Wolstenholme, says this will go a long way in kick-starting a football career.
“We are so grateful to everyone involved in this special day,” Mr Wolstenholme said.
“It’s so important his legacy lives on, and allows kids with financial difficulties, to have funding to play the sport we all love.”
