Charity football match in memory of two supporters

A dedicated fan of non-league Leek Town has organised a charity match to honour the memory of two friends and supporters.

James Lockett and Peter Tylman both died in their 40s and are fondly remembered in the Staffordshire town.

Postman Mark Brough said more than 50 players were keen to play in the game in memory of the men who had died "too young". It kicks off at 14:00 BST on Sunday 31 August at the F. Ball Community Stadium in Leek.

"When I used to organise an away day, they were my first two phone calls because they knew that many people," he said. "They were so important to everybody."

Mr Lockett was a Greater Manchester police officer and founder of independent video production company, Leek TV.

Mr Tylman was known as "Chilly Tilly", a self-employed ice-cream seller with a love for the Staffordshire countryside.

Both men died in the winter of 2020, and their presence has been missed on the terraces ever since at the Northern Premier League side.

Fans have dedicated flags to the pair which they hold at stadiums across the country and internationally when following England.

Mr Brough thought a charity game would be a natural extension of that act of remembrance.

"It's going to be a big day. Let's hope it's a big turnout," he said.

The match is free for children and will be followed by live music, an auction and a raffle, which have been generously supported by local businesses.

"They've been absolutely fantastic; I can't thank them enough," Mr Brough said. "Everybody rallies round in Leek."

Mr Brough has fundraising experience, having posed with the Leek Calendar Boys to raise funds for Prostate Cancer UK.

The money generated from the football match will go to Stone-based charity, AED Donate.

It has installed thousands of defibrillators around the country to help when someone suffers a cardiac arrest.

Dave Swarbrook, who volunteers for AED Donate, has recommended that funds raised from the game be used to move one of the defibrillators pitchside and into a heated cabinet.

"When it goes below four degrees, the battery drains really quickly," he explained.

"Also, if you get frozen adhesive pads, they won't attach to the chest of the person who's gone into cardiac arrest."

He has also designed a booklet that explains how to administer CPR and operate a defibrillator.

Additional donations will be used to cover the printing costs of these booklets.

"We're hoping to distribute it to football clubs at all levels across North Staffordshire."