FRIENDS and family of a popular Whitchurch dad, who passed away aged 38, held a memorial football tournament in his memory.

The event, held last weekend at Longmeadow Sports Club, was in memory of former Whitchurch resident Lee Wilson who died in May this year from lymphoma.

Friends of Mr Wilson, who worked as an IT manager for Stannah, decided to organise the tournament in memory of the popular dad-of-two and as an opportunity to bring together his former colleagues, friends and family.

The group also used the event to raise over £5,500 for Crohn’s and Colitis UK, as Mr Wilson was a longterm sufferer of the chronic and often life-changing inflammatory bowel condition.

Over 60 people took part in the tournament, with players split into four teams to represent the different areas of Mr Wilson’s life.

One team represented his workplace Stannah, while another represented his love for his favourite football club, Reading FC.

There were also teams to represent Tadley, where Mr Wilson grew up, and Whitchurch, named the Whitchurch Warriors, who represented his family life in the town.

Each team played each other in a ‘round-robin’ style tournament which was eventually won by Tadley, who lifted the trophy after beating Reading 4-1 in a tense final, attended by over 500 people.

Alongside the football there were also various fundraising events and stalls throughout the day including a homemade cake stand and a raffle.

However the main fundraising event came in the form of a silent auction, with prizes including a tasting menu at the Plough Inn at Longparish, a signed Reading FC shirt and a Hawk Conservancy voucher donated by Stannah.

One of the organisers of the event was friend George Hiles, who met in Mr Wilson in 2006 through antenatal classes.

Mr Hiles said: “We had an unbelievable response.

“We sold tickets at £3.50 for adults and had nearly 600 people through the gate.

“It was a really successful day although it was bittersweet in a way because I know that Lee would have loved to have been a part of it.”