A JUNIOR football club has organised a fund raising match in memory of the team's goalkeeper who died shortly before his 12th birthday.

Joshua West, from Ulverston, suffered a fatal asthma attack in April and now Swarthmoor Junior Football Club is seeking to raise £4,000 for a memorial bench.

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Fundraising events have been held in Joshua’s memory for Asthma UK, but the memorial bench is very much a personal project for the club.

Club chairman Tommy Tomsett said a bench on a special platform will offer a place of remembrance for everyone who knew the popular young footballer.

“What we wanted to do is to make sure he is never forgotten,” he said. “Joshua was very bubbly, cheeky sort of child. He always had a smile on his face. He had been practising his goal-keeping with his father and brother.”

Joshua had played with Swarthmoor Junior Football Club since he was six and had also played for Kendal United. His father, Lee, was the team's coach.

“As you can imagine everyone has been very upset,” said Mr Tomsett. “But everyone at the club is offering their support. It’s different to offer support just for one or two weeks but the whole of the club is pulling together to support them in every way they can.”

Joshua's brother, Billy, plays for the under 8s and his mother, Nicola, grandparents, aunties, uncles and cousins are all regular supporters at matches.

“The club will never forget Joshua and we will do all we can to support his family now and in the future," said Mr Tomsett. "We hope to raise as much money as possible through the Just Giving page - it would be great if we raised enough to buy a memorial bench for the club grounds and to pay for Joshua's parents and his younger brother Billy to go on holiday."

The club will have a charity game with Ulverston Rangers on July 23 at Swarthmoor Football club.

The JustGiving page for the Joshua West memorial bench can be found on https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/Joshua-west