FOOTBALLERS from Louth and Fulstow preserved a Grimsby Town fan's legacy at Blundell Park to raise money for sports equipment.
Russ's Old Boys played Fulstow Rovers to raise money for the Russ Maddison Sports Foundation, named after a stalwart of the local football scene.
Mr Maddison died after collapsing towards the end of a match for Manby in October 2011, aged 55.
Friends and family set up the charity to raise money for sports facilities in Fulstow, where he lived.
His son Simon, 30, played in the match and said his dad would have been proud to see the legacy he left – especially as Fulstow, a team he set up in the early 1990s, beat the opposition 3-1.
He added: "This is a really fitting tribute to him – sport was a big part of his life.
"He used to bring to Blundell Park when I was a child and it's great to be playing a match here.
"The team have played well."
It's the second year a match has been held in Mr Maddison's memory and the foundation has spent more than £2,500 on equipment, including new rackets and shuttlecocks for the badminton club and footballs for Fulstow Rovers FC.
The match started with a minute of applause before Fulstow, his local side, and opponents Russ's Old Boys – former Louth Old Boys where he played – took to the pitch.
It was a closely fought match, but the difference was Fulstow player Nicky Hopper, the right centre back, who scored two headers from two corners.
Fulstow manager for the match Luke Turner, 26, said: "We had a good game and the lads we played against were great as well.
"It was a good, clean match and everyone seemed to really enjoy playing."
Mr Maddison was well known locally for his dedication to football – both as a player and a coach who got the best out of young talent.
He set up two junior teams in Fulstow in the 1990s, which Simon played for, as well as Carl Larder, 27.
Mr Larder said: "I remember his coaching expertise helped us beat Bluestar to win the cup – after they beat us 9-3 the week before.
"It was a great feeling to win and we went out celebrating, but we were only about 13 so the best we could do was a Bass shandy.
"He was a good coach and had a great sense of humour – those were great times."
ON THE WEB: See more pictures from the match at www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk
