A CHARITY match to honour a Haydon Bridge football stalwart will be held this weekend with supporters urged to come forward.

Football coach David Tulip, who played a leading role in the development of young players, will be remembered at a special match to be held in his honour on Sunday.

David established the Haydon Bridge U18s team in the 1970s and helped two of the village’s youngsters on their journey into professional football. Shaun Elliott captained Sunderland and also played for Norwich City, while George Hope went on to score for Newcastle United against Manchester United.

David died on May 1 after a long battle against ill health.

The Haydon Bridge United Sunday team will take on a team put together by David’s son, Joseph. The Joseph Tulip Golden Select XI will include players from past and present with connections to both David and Joseph.

It’s an honour to have the opportunity to do this in my dad’s memory,” said Joseph. “He always did his best for Haydon Bridge Football Club, both as a player and coach.

“David was committed to the development of young players and made key contacts at professional clubs who would send scouts out to watch emerging talent.”

A long-serving postman, David was used to overcoming adversity. After winning his cancer battle in 2007, he battled strokes from 2014 onwards and developed lung cancer in the last year of his life.

The event will be sponsored by post-match venue Haydonian Community Lounge and Bar and is supported by Top Signs.

It will raise funds for the Northern Oesophago Gastric Cancer Fund, which is part of the Newcastle Hospitals Charity, 14 years after David underwent lifesaving surgery at the (RVI) to remove a cancerous polyp from his food pipe. To donate, visit, justgiving.com/fundraising/joseph-tulip2