Judging awards can be a tricky task. In the case of Jack Musgrave, though, the decision was not a difficult one. And it all comes down to that profound word: spirit.
Jack’s story is well known but never loses its power: the young, Carlisle United-mad footballer from Cumbria who, in his teens, has had to confront cancer.
The way Jack and his family did this touched a county and its football community. Since April, he has been in remission. And when the Cumberland Football Association came to bestow its ‘spirit of football’ award this autumn, there could not have been a more appropriate recipient.
The official presentation took place last week, Jack surrounded by his Calthwaite junior football club team-mates, the award recognising them all. It was a chilly night at Newton Rigg but a warm glow accompanied the ceremony, which was led by Ben Snowdon, the Cumberland FA’s chief executive.
The spirit of football award is named after John Twentyman, whose long service in county football is well remembered. Ben told the News & Star: “John was an honorary member of Cumberland FA until he passed away in 2022, and everybody who knew John knew he was a true football person – everything that he stood for was around fair play, ethics, morals, values.
“Rather than naming a cup competition after him, we felt the best thing was to have an award that epitomised him. So we created the John Twentyman Spirit of Cumberland Football Awards, which looks to recognise an individual, or a team, either for something they’ve done to create positive football experiences, or a culture of positivity around the club – or it could be a moment of true sport and inspiration, or sportsmanship.”
A judging panel assessed nominations and Jack’s story was a clear winner in both the panel and public’s voting.
“All of those things ticked the box with Jack,” adds Ben. “If you are talking about somebody who epitomises not just football spirit but spirit in general it was him and his family.”
Jack’s cancer story has been documented by his mum, Linda Hebson, and it has inspired the best of Cumbrian football and indeed friendship. Many of Jack’s pals went on to take on charity challenges in his honour, his junior football club proved endlessly supportive and his heroes at Brunton Park, such as Jon Mellish and Paul Huntington, embraced him.
“You just have to look at how they fronted up to the diagnosis, how they came to terms with and battled it – and also how honest they were,” Ben says.
“I told his mum that that will have helped a number of people she won't even know. I also explained to Jack that, if there were times where I felt like I’d had a bad day at work, I’d often see a [social media] post about what he was doing, and that positive outlook made me think, ‘What am I complaining about? This lad has shown me that I need to be grateful for everything that I've got’.
“He epitomised everything that made him a worthy winner and just an absolute inspiration.”
Jack, who attends Ullswater Community College in Penrith, underwent treatment at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary since his diagnosis. As a fan of Carlisle United’s most wholehearted player, his and the family’s intention was to see that the cancer got ‘Mellished’.
Happily, that was what they were able to announce in the spring. Jack requires check-ups, MRI scans and X-rays for the next three years but the most gruelling part of his journey was ended when he rang the hospital bell.
He's done it!! The cancer has been Mellished!! 👊🏻
— Linda Hebson (@cupcakelinda05) April 30, 2024
Jack is officially in remission 💙
Check ups of MRI scans and xrays for the next 3 years.
So proud of him 💙
He hasn't stopped smiling since he left the consultants office. #cancer #cufc pic.twitter.com/rlLfegUpP1
“Although I was bestowing an honour on him, I felt it was the other way round – I felt honoured,” says Ben. “Honoured to meet Jack and his family, and tell them what an impact he’d had on me, the panel members and loads of other people who got in touch with us.
“I feel I know Jack a little bit now, and when I spoke about this, he just shrugged his shoulders in true Jack fashion and just said, ‘I’m just getting on with it’.
“He’s back playing football, the family are still going to watch Carlisle United – it’s clear that football means the world to him. We were talking about him wanting to work in sport and in the future, and I think it’s all a reminder to us about the impact football can have.
“Being honest, he reminded me so much of John Twentyman – the fact that he didn't want any accolades, he didn't want any recognition.”
Jack’s story brought the best out of Cumbrian football, in the way that challenging times often do. Ben refers to the moving scenes on grassroots pitches last weekend, when teams across the county staged tributes to Jay Cartmell, the eight-year-old Whitehaven Miners Social player who tragically died last month.
“The whole of football has come together again, and I know from his family how appreciative they are of that,” adds Ben.
“I’m never shocked by the way Cumbria comes together, as it did for Jack. So I’m not only very proud of Jack, but very proud of Cumberland football too.”
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