Football match tribute to tragic teen

Former Wickersley Comprehensive School midfielder Ashley Lerigo has organised the charity match which will see his old team take on Brinsworth Comprehensive School in a re-creation of the 2002 Rotherham Schools Finals, at 1.30pm on Sunday.

The match is being played out in memory of Ryan Bothamley, a former pupil of both Brinsworth and Wickersley comprehensive schools, who died just weeks before his friends from both schools met in the final.

A fit and active teenager who had enjoyed trials with Rotherham United and Sheffield Wednesday, Ryan passed away suddenly on February 5, 2002, as he travelled home from a careers evening with his girlfriend.

A victim of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome, he had suffered no health issues before his tragic and unexpected death.

Ashley (25), of Maltby, said: “He was really popular with players on both teams and we thought it would be nice if we could re-create the game of ten years ago and raise some funds for SADS UK in the process.”

Ashley is hoping that between 200 and 400 people will attend the match, being played at Wickersley Comprehensive School, paying £2 each to see the two teams go head-to-head once again.

All proceeds from the event, a raffle and a charity auction at Wickersley Cricket Club, at 5pm on Sunday, will be donated to SADS UK.

For more information about the charity football match, or to donate money to SADS UK, visit www.justgiving.com/ryanbothamleycharity football.

For more information about SADS UK visit www.sadsuk.org.