Memorial match tribute to "local legend" John

A FOOTBALL club will pay tribute to one of its former players - a “local legend” who went on to report on the team for 30 years - by holding a charity match next week.

Former Denaby United player John Hurley died in December, aged 89, after a five-year battle with dementia.

His family and friends have now organised the match in his memory in the hope of raising hundreds of pounds for charity Dementia UK.

Grandad-of-20 John, a porter at Fullerton Hospital for 30 years, was also honoured by the Pope for serving the church for 80 years.

His daughter Margaret (44), of Conisbrough, said: “My dad was a local legend - much-loved and everybody who knew him said he always had a smile on his face.”

The family’s £250 fund-raising target has already been smashed after a “fantastic” response, said Margaret, adding that many businesses had donated raffle prizes.

The match - for the John Hurley Memorial Trophy - is between Denaby United and Denaby Main JFC at Denaby United’s ground, Tickhill Square, on Wednesday, August 31, at 6pm.

Admission is £1 and there will be a buffet and raffle prize draw at Denaby Miners’ Welfare Club.

Father-of-six John, of Denaby, was recognised as the country’s longest-serving altar boy and received a medal from former Pope John Paul II for his service to the village’s St Alban’s Church.

He juggled his job with the role of correspondent for the South Yorkshire Times for about 30 years throughout the 1970s, 80s and 90s.

He also played football at semi-professional level for several teams including Denaby United, Denaby Rovers and Bangor City and represented Mexborough Athletic Tennis Club, winning the South Yorkshire regional title in the 1960s.

For more information or to donate visit www.justgiv ing.com/fundraising/Andrew Hurley2.