A CHARITY football tournament held annually in memory of a Gobowen and Weston Rhyn footballer has now raised more than £150,000.

This year’s Graham Edwards Memorial Trophy took place in July and raised more than £6,100.

The tournament is held in memory of Graham Edwards, who died after being diagnosed with leukaemia in 1974 at the age of 21.

In the year following his death, the memorial tournament was set up – it has since taken place annually for 45 years.

The money raised from the tournament and annual dinner, this year held at the Lion Quays, is donated to Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.

Former premier league forward Mick Quinn gave a talk on the evening, while comedian Jed Stone provided entertainment.

Tournament chairman, Wayn Martayn, said it is a great achievement for the tournament to reach the £150,000 milestone.

“It’s amazing to be able to raise so much or such a good cause,” he said.

“It was a very good night; Mick was fantastic, and Jed provided some excellent entertainment.

“The tournament itself raised £3,100 while the annual dinner raised a further £3,000.”

The dinner, held on the evening of Saturday, September 6, was held a day after the death of Gobowen man Dan Oakley who was involved with the tournaments over the years.

Wayn added: “We all had a quiet moment of reflection for Dan on the evening and took time to break the news to those who didn’t already know.

“I thought long and hard with other committee members about cancelling the event, but we knew Dan would not have wanted that.”

Many in attendance went from the Lion Quays at the end of the event to Dan’s local pub – the Cross Foxes in Gobowen.