Sheffield Eagles mourns Lisa Kelly-Pride
22/04/2024
Sheffield Eagles and The Eagles Foundation are saddened by the news of the passing of Lisa Kelly-Pride, a long time Eagles supporter and Wheelchair Rugby League player, who died this morning, Monday 22nd April, at 7.45am.
“She was a devoted wife, girlfriend to Sammi and team mate who had an infectious smile” said her husband Ian Pride. “She will be sadly missed and forever loved.”
Having supported the Eagles from being a youngster and attending games with her parents, Lisa became Sheffield Eagles Wheelchair Heritage Number 26 when she made her debut for the Wheelchair team against Wakefield on 25th February 2023, a game which made history for the club as they won 8-82, picking up their first ever win, with Lisa and Ian both making their debut from the bench.
Lisa went on to play 4 further first team games in 2023 for the first team, including a the first Championship win over Bradford Bulls, and a 5 games for the club’s A team in the North Division.
Her final game came in 2024 earlier this year when Lisa was part of the squad who faced Leeds Rhinos, with Lisa having a stint against the Rhinos first team, including World Champions Tom Halliwell and Nathan Collins, an opportunity she could barely believe took place.
“Everyone at Sheffield Eagles and the Eagles Foundation, especially the members of the Wheelchair team are devasted to hear of Lisa’s passing” said David Butler, a member of the Wheelchair team and Eagles Foundation Chairperson.
“Lisa quickly became a popular figure within the team after joining us via a taster session at Concord leisure centre. She instantly fell in love with Wheelchair Rugby League and it gave her the opportunity to play a version of the sport she loved as a disabled person and it was great to see her back in the stands supporting the men’s and women’s teams on matchdays too. It was an honour to welcome her into the team and it was a thrill for everyone to see how much she enjoyed playing the matches and the camaraderie she brought to training. She will be missed by us all and everyone sends their love to Lisa’s family, her husband Ian and her girlfriend Sammi.”
Further details Lisa’s funeral will be made known in due course.
Once An Eagle Always An Eagle #22
