HUNDREDS of friends and family members turned out in force at a charity football match to remember a popular pub landlord who died last year.

The match at Hollinhurst Park on Saturday was held in honour of Charlie Crompton, who ran the Morning Star Pub in Thomas Street.

In his memory, the event raised £955 for the British Heart Foundation.

Mr Crompton, an avid Manchester City fan, died at his home on October 27 at the age of 56 after suffering heart problems in his sleep.

Organisers are now planning to make the charity match an annual occasion, after it was so well received.

His son Stuart, who has taken over the pub, said: “We were all really happy with how the day went. To have a couple of hundred people turning out and a lot of us playing too was really great.

“We had all of his family and friends down there, and it was such a success that we are thinking of making it an annual event.

“That will hopefully be a really good way to remember my dad.”

Around 40 people played in the match, which pitted the Morning Star’s pub side against a team of ‘old boys’ who had played with Mr Crompton in the past.

The pub team, who donned Manchester City kits, were victorious in a penalty shootout after the match ended 2-2 after 90 minutes.

Stuart added: “A lot of the lads playing were diehard United fans, so it pained them a bit to be wearing City shirts for the day.

“But that just goes to show how much they cared about my dad and wanted to remember him, as does the number of old boys who wanted to come and play.”

Mr Crompton worked at Radcliffe Paper Mill before moving into the pub trade and had also run the Wellington Inn, Ram’s Head, British Queen, and the Horse Shoe.

He was married twice and left four sons, two daughters, and 15 grandchildren.