A CELEBRATION of a dedicated servant to non-league football is set to take place.

A match will be held at Whitchurch United Football, in Longmeadow, on Saturday, 12 May in memory of Bob Haynes.

Avid Southampton fan Bob, who lived in Hurstbourne Tarrant, died at the age of 60 on 20 July, 2016, at the Countess of Brecknock Hospice, where he had been receiving treatment for a month

The match is fundraising for the hospice service.

Bob, who ran his own mobile refinishing company called RH Refinishing, was involved in the then Andover FC, Andover New Street and Whitchurch United.

He took on an array of tasks for the clubs, helping out with anything from photography, tea bar duties and pitch maintenance to standing on club committees and even becoming a shareholder at Andover FC at one stage.

Cara Lewis, one of the organisers of the event, said: “Bob loved football and involvement at non-league level. He was never happier than when left to his own devices and chugging up and down a football pitch on a mower.

“We hope to raise as much as possible for the Countess of Brecknock Hospice, and have a lovely day reminiscing the good memories so many people have of Bob.

“All staff [at the hospice] were amazing and couldn’t do enough, so we wanted to give them something back by holding a football match in Bob’s memory to raise money for them.

“The main organiser is Mick Bugg, a huge thank you to him.”

The match will be between a group of Andover FC ‘old boys’ against a composite team of Andover New Street and Whitchurch.

There will also be a raffle and auction after the match to raise as much as possible for the cause.

Two auction items confirmed are signed Reading FC and Southampton FC shirts.

Any companies willing to donate prizes for the raffle or auction at the match should email caralewis72@yahoo.com.