THE Memorial Sunday Football League has been renamed to honour one of its founder members.

For the league will now be known as the Harry Dewhurst Memorial League in memory of the well-liked former secretary, who sadly passed away last year.

Member clubs voted unanimously to the name change at the league's recent AGM at Accrington Stanley. League secretary Peter Tate said: "It is a fitting tribute to someone who did so much for the league. We wanted to do more than just name a trophy after Harry and renaming the league underlines just how much he meant to us.

"Naturally, we checked with Harry's family first before deciding to change the league's name and they were very pleased.

"The decision has the full backing of our committee and our member clubs."

The name change to the league will have to be rectified by the Lancashire Football Association.

Harry, who once played semi professional football for Blackburn Rovers, helped form the Memorial Sunday League in 1986 with a group of friends with a dozen clubs. Today the league has 25 teams competing in three divisions.

Harry was also a keen cricketer and played for Cherry Tree well in to his 40s and later became an umpire in the Ribblesdale League and the Chorley and District League.

He was also a keen snooker player and, while at Cherry Tree, Harry, along with Phil Roscoe, Alan Jackson and Brian Duxbury, formed the PHAB Four (taken from their initials). The four donated a trophy to the club's best snooker player each year.

Peter added: "Harry really loved the league so we are delighted that he can be remembered in the way he would have liked."