THE chairman of a charity football tournament has thanked all those who helped raise thousands of pounds this summer, including a local restaurant boss.

Wayn Martayn joined others as the Simla Tandoori Restaurant, in Beatrice Street, to receive a cheque from proprietor George Miah who donated £400 to make the overall total raised by this year’s Graham Edwards Memorial Trophy £5,000.

Wayn admitted his delight at how the 2021 edition went and thanked the crowds who made the tournament 'the best ever'.

"The tournament did £4,600 and then George Miah from Simla in Oswestry saw the updates in the Advertizer and wanted to make it up to £5,000," said Wayn.

"That's brilliant and it all helps.

"It was probably the best ever year we've had and I don't know if that's down to if everyone was stuck inside with lockdown.

"The crowds were exceptional; we had 15 games and they were pretty much all played in glorious weather, and people were very generous when it came to donating for the raffle.

"It all went really, really well.

"At the end of the day, people coming down to watch is the only we can make any money, so a big thank you to all of you."

The committee is now organising two more events – a music night and a sportsman's dinner which Wayn hopes will raise more funds.

He added: "We've got the very popular Bartells at Weston Pools on Saturday, November 20 and then a sportsman dinner with Neil 'Razor' Ruddock on Friday, November 26, also at Weston Pools.

"That's really going to help with the fundraising as prior to the football we'd already raised £150,000 over the years and that took us to £155,000.

"I think this may raise an extra four or five thousand and take us to £160,000.

"I want to just thank all the organisers and people who helped."

The trophy competition was established in 1975 after Graham, a promising young footballer, lost his life to leukaemia.