A FOOTBALL match held in memory of a local stalwart of the game has seen over £2,000 sent to charity.

The David Tulip Memorial Match, which took place in Haydon Bridge, has raised £2,531.91 for the Northern Oesophago Gastric Cancer Fund, which is part of the Newcastle Hospitals Charity.

Crowds turned out in numbers at the special football match to remember former postman and footballer and coach, David Tulip.

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.

He died on May 1 aged 85 after a long battle against ill health.

The match saw the present day Haydon Bridge Sunday morning team take on a side selected by David’s son, Joseph.

Former Courant reporter Joseph said: "Every penny raised was always going to be a bonus and to go beyond the £2,500 mark is a remarkable achievement.

"There was a lot of good will, energy and enthusiasm from so many people right from the very start.

"I'll be forever proud and grateful that we could do this in aid of a cause which meant so much to my dad, in his memory.

"I am very thankful to everyone who played their part both on and off the field."

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.