A WELL-KNOWN figure in Jersey football has received a prestigious literary award following the publication of a deeply personal memoir charting an extraordinary life of adversity, identity and achievement.
Ricky Weir, former president of the Jersey Football Association, recently received the Pegasus Literary Award in Cattolica, Italy, for his book ‘Illegitimately Blessed’, which was published by Europe Books in December.
The Pegasus awards are widely regarded in literary circles as the “Oscars of Italian literature”, recognising works of notable cultural and emotional impact.
Mr Weir’s memoir tells a remarkable story that begins in Glasgow in 1963, where he was born under difficult circumstances.
He was almost aborted, born illegitimately and later given up for adoption. He spent part of his early life in institutional care before being listed for adoption in Scottish newspapers.
He was subsequently adopted into a white Scottish family, growing up in a society where issues of identity, race and belonging were ever-present and unavoidable.
While the book lays bare those early struggles, many in Jersey will know Mr Weir best for his long-standing contribution to local football.
For more than 40 years, he has been involved in the Island’s game as a player, coach, manager and former president of the Jersey Football Association.
In more recent years, he has also devoted time to football-related charitable work, supporting projects in some of Africa’s most disadvantaged communities.
Since publication, the memoir has been praised for its honesty and emotional depth, and themes of rejection, self-discovery and, ultimately, acceptance.
