A FOOTBALL festival was held at Adderlane Academy in Prudhoe on Thursday, July 7.

Earlier this year, football strips were donated in memory of football stalwart Ian Lowery, a man at the heart of the Prudhoe community, who died suddenly aged 45 on November 14, 2020.

Emma Potts, Headteacher and SEND coordinator of Adderlane Academy, said: "Football was Ian's first love and money raised in his memory was used to fund the strips."

Hexham Courant: The football festival at Adderlane AcademyThe football festival at Adderlane Academy

"Following the distribution of the strips, we organised the first of many football festivals. Today it was Adderlane Academy's turn to host the festival attended by Prudhoe West Academy. In beautiful sunshine, we enjoyed competing and also learned some new football skills."

READ MORE: Football matches to remember community stalwarts

Now, pupils at Adderlane Academy, Prudhoe West Academy and Prudhoe Castle First School all wear strips with Ian's name.

Hexham Courant: Children playing football at Adderlane AcademyChildren playing football at Adderlane Academy

Each school had ten strips donated for their school team. 

A former Blackpool FC youth player, Ian's promising career at the North West club was cut short by injury but he continued coaching local youngsters.

Football matches will be played on Saturday, July 23, which will see Ian Lowery's Legends, made up of former teammates of Ian's, take on Ian Lowery's Select, a team Ian used to train.

There will be also attractions, including slides, bouncy castles and stalls.

READ MORE: Strips donated after collection for late footballer and youth worker