Auction and football match to remember Ian

Former player to be honoured by match and auction

A CHARITY football match and auction in memory of the late Ian Thompson takes place in Hungerford on Sunday.

Mr Thompson, who lived at Moores Place, Hungerford, was diagnosed with oesophagal cancer and died, nine months later on September 8 last year, aged 60.

The match, between Hungerford Juniors 'Old Boys' and Hungerford Town Veterans XI is being held at Hungerford Town Football Club with a 2pm kick off.

His 34-year-old son, Mark, who has organised the match and auction, said: “Dad ran our Juniors team from the Under-10 age group, so we're reuniting 25yrs later. Dad was also part of the successful Hngerford Town Football Club team during the 1970's so there are a lot of familiar faces from the last few decades of Hungerford Town players that are pulling their boots on again.

“We are expecting a good crowd on the day which is important because we will also be holding an auction after the match.

Among the many items to be auctioned are a Queens Park Rangers signed shirt, a Burnley signed shirt, a football signed by Celtic, jockey britches signed by AP McCoy, an England 2010/11 Ashes Squad signed photo, West Berkshire Golf Club voucher, a pair of premier enclosure tickets for Newbury Racecourse and a signed Arsenal team photo.

Mr Thompson said: “Unfortunately I cannot play having had ankle surgery just last Tuesday but the show goes on!”

All proceeds will be donated to Newbury and District Cancer Care Trust and Mr Thompson added: “Having witnessed first-hand the invaluable work of this amazing local charity that loans equipment, provides transport, therapy and counselling, I wanted to thank them for the support they provided while my Dad was ill, by raising some much needed funds.”

More than £1,000 has already been raised and anyone wishing to donate can do so online at www.justgiving.com/thommo

Mr Thompson senior is also survived by his wife Nola and younger son Andrew, aged 31.