A CHARITY football match was held on Saturday in memory of 11-year-old goalkeeper JoshuaWest, who died in April following an asthma attack at his Ulverston home.

The match was hosted at Swarthmoor Football Club in tribute to the former Ulverston Victoria High School pupil who was a popular member of the village's junior team.

Swarthmoor Juniors took on Ulverston Rangers and ran out 8-2 winners in a game that was well supported by the local community and helped to raise £2,000 towards buying a memorial bench for Joshua that will be erected on the pitch in his honour.

Peter Burrows, coach for under 8s and assistant coach to under 12s, said: “The camaraderie and support for Joshua was there the whole day.

“It’s such a shame that everyone had such a good time on such a sad occasion. Joshua would have loved it.”

Ulverston Rangers were chosen as opponents for the game because most of the players went to the same school as Joshua.

“We treated it like a professional game, with a good prep talk in the locker room before the game," said Mr Burrows. "Joshua was a Liverpool fan, and they played ‘You'll Never Walk Alone’ as we walked out. It was very emotional.”

Several members of Joshua’s family were present at the game including Joshua’s father Lee West, who coaches the under 12s, alongside Joshua’s mother Nicola Lancaster, his brother Billy and grandmother, who had flown in from Gibraltar for the game.

“The junior football community is like an extended family. Children have played together, they are like brothers to one another,” said Mr Burrows. "Football clubs from London and Liverpool have helped, businesses have donated and children have been donating their £5 pocket money.”

“The community wants to do all that they can to support Joshua’s family during these difficult times."

Mr Burrows is currently coaching Joshua’s younger brother Billy, who wants to become a goalkeeper like his brother.

A Just Giving page for Joshua can be found at: https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/joshua-west#!