A WELL-LIKED local man was celebrated during a charity football match.

James Milbourne known as 'Milb' to his friends died suddenly in July last year from a cardiac arrest, triggered by sarcoidosis, when he was aged just 29.

The match took place on Sunday September 18, between his old side, GDL Athletic and a side put out by his local pub, The Saracens Head with around 60 people turning up to watch.

Chris Walton, organising the GDL Athletic side said: ""It was great to see so many people once again come along to show their support.

"We had a great turnout when we played this match last year and the same can be said again this time around, so a big thanks to everyone who was there and also to those who have donated online.

"Receiving such strong support for this event is a great testament to what a popular guy Milb was and how he had a positive affect on so many people around him."

All the £910.10 raised from this year's match, will go to SILA, the sarcoidosis charity, sarcoidosis is a disease resulting in small nodules of inflammation and scarring (called granulomas) throughout the body.

Mr Walton added: ""Sarcoidosis is such a misunderstood and poorly researched condition. It is very difficult to diagnose as many of its symptoms are so similar to that of other, more common, diseases and, although there are a number of theories, nobody is 100% sure what even causes sarcoidosis.

"I urge everyone to take a long look at SILA's website (www.sila.org.uk) and show their support for this small charity who are trying to do big things to improve knowledge of this potentially life taking disease.

"As sarcoidosis is so rare it receives little attention, but everyone reading this article has an opportunity to do their bit to change this in their own way."

The game finished 6-3 to GDL Athletic, with Jonathan Dine, Mark Edwards two, Jason Glazier, Rich Gardner and Will Hughes grabbing the goals for GDL and Roy Hannay with a hattrick for Saracens Head.

Mr Walton added: ""We have made a solid start to our league campaign so were fairly confident going in to the game.

"I was expecting a much closer contest than last years corresponding fixture which saw us ease home 10-0 but we were given a real scare by a combative and fired up team. "Each time we threatened to pull away, they came back at us and it wasn't until a few fresh legs came on for the last 20 minutes that we pulled away to pick up the win so credit to Sam and the Sarries team for giving people an exciting game to watch."

"Some of our goals were eye catching in their own way.

"Jon Dine scoring a goal is almost unheard of in itself but to do so with a header is ridiculous!

"Even though I saw it happen, I'm still not sure I believe it! "Jason Glazier surged forward from defence to score his first goal for us in about 3 years (admittedly he has been in Australia for much of that time) and Rich Gardner is still claiming his goal was meant to be a shot rather than a cross!"

Sam Critchfield, who organised and managed the Saracens Head team said: “Massive thanks to everyone who came out and supported the event.

"It was a competitive game and we were lucky with some nice weather, made some money for an excellent cause and remembered a great friend.

"To not lose again 10-0 again was also a bonus, so I can’t fault the efforts of the guys who came out and played for the pub against an in-form GDL side.”

Last year, local brewery Cannon Royall released a "Milb Ale" in honour of Mr Milbourne, which is still sold by the pub.

Anyone who wishes to donate go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Chris-Walton8