A DEVOTED Everton fan who died in tragic circumstances following his beloved club will be remembered at a charity football match.

Mark Lambert, from Oxenholme, had travelled to the south coast to watch the Toffees take on Brighton and Hove Albion.

His son, Shane, said his dad was found after falling down some steps near to his bed and breakfast, suffering a fatal head injury.

Around 500 people turned out for the 58-year-old's funeral at Kendal Parish Church and among the mourners was ex-Everton footballer Ian Snodin.

"The funeral was probably the worst day of my life, but I was made up to see so many people there, it just showed how many people loved him," said Shane.

Adam Carradus, Shane Dixon, and Ash Forrest, all friends of Mr Lambert's son, have now set about organising a charity game in memory of the football fanatic.

Mr Lambert, who worked at K Shoes, Lakeland Limited and then clothing brand 11 Degrees, was a former manager of Wattsfield FC, who are pitting an 11-a-side team against members of Ibis FC at the Jubilee Playing Fields at 1pm on December 23.

A number of close family friends are also set to feature in the match, which is raising funds for Alder Hey children's hospital in Liverpool, which is supported by Everton FC.

"Shane has been a close friend of mine for a lot of years," said 29-year-old Adam. "I used to go to his house when I was four or five years old and I wanted to support him.

"Straight from hearing the news I wanted to support him. Obviously I can't change what happened but I just wanted to help and with our relationship through football it made sense to organise a charity match."

A number of local business – including Romney's, Kendal Bed Centre, 11 Degrees, Westmorland Flooring and The Station Inn at Oxenholme – have all donated raffle prizes to help raise funds at the game.

Shane, 29, said the match would be the perfect tribute to Mark, who had travelled the world supporting Everton during his lifetime.

"Everton was absolutely massive to him," he said. "If you speak to anyone about him they know him as a massive Everton supporter.

"He went home and away to pretty much every game and had a season ticket for about 50 years."

Mr Lambert was born in Liverpool in September 1959 to Kit and Dorothy Lambert, and moved to Kendal when he was approximately 10-years-old, where he attended Kendal Grammar School.

For more than 20 years he helped out his parents at the Westmorland County Show. While at school he was in cricket and rugby first teams, and went on to represent both Netherfield and Kendal Cricket Clubs.

His brother, Chris Lambert, said: "While at Netherfield he worked behind the bar and had the privilege of pulling pints for the likes of David Boon, Mike Whitney and Jacques Kallis to name a few. It did not end at pulling pints mind, I think he enjoyed a few too."

In 1984, he married Pauline and together they had daughter Kerrie as well as son Shane. His grandson, Kyle, was born to Kerrie in 2010 and this year Shane and his partner Lauren gave him his first granddaughter.

"Mark adored them, his family was his life," added Chris. "He has many friends and nobody had a bad word to say about Mark.

"Mark’s love for Everton was unquestionable but his love for his family and friends was what he lived for. He will be greatly missed by everyone."

At the time of his death, Mr Lambert was working as a warehouse manager for clothing labels Urban Celebrity and 11 Degrees. Andy Hayton and Steve Kitchen, directors of Urban Celebrity, issued a statement in tribute to him.

"Mark was respected throughout the company, and really brought a new level of efficiency to his department," they said. "Mark was the life and soul of any out of work activities and loved socialising with his colleagues.

"We feel the football game that has been organised in his memory is a perfect way to celebrate the life of an amazing man, given his love for the game, along with his widely recognised participation in local junior football management.

"We'll fittingly all be raising a glass to Mark."