THE father of a Darwen teenager who died from a heart attack after playing football paid tribute to the people of Darwen who staged a match in memory of his son.

David Graham, 42, of Waterside, Darwen, said the match, held at the Darwen Anchor Ground had brought back sad memories of the day his son was taken ill, mixed with admiration for the local people who had organised the event.

Sixteen-year-old David Graham, of The Old Co-Op in Waterside, died at the Royal Preston Hospital collapsing in a game against a team from neighbouring village Hoddlesden two months ago.

The Darwen Moorland High School pupil was taken by ambulance to Blackburn Infirmary after pal Ian Almond, 18, who played in the memorial match, raised the alarm and dialled 999.

David eventually died from a heart attack, which his family believe may have been caused by a hereditary problem.

The Waterside United Under 30s, the team David had been playing for when he was taken ill, took on the Duke of York Select XI in a match to raise funds for a brain scanner at the Royal Preston Hospital.

The evening raised just over £760 as collectors carried buckets asking for donations.

David, who was managing the Waterside team, said: "I have not had anything to do with organising this, it has all been the local people. They wanted to play a football match in his memory."

The match was watched by more than 100 local people, friends of the family and David's school friends, as well as people from Waterside.

David, who was at the match with his wife, Jackie, and daughter Claire, said the last couple of months had been a hard time for the family, but that fund-raising events and the support of local people had helped them get through it.The Waterside team won the match 3-2, before an auction was held at the Duke of York pub.

Landlady Bernadette Woods said: "I knew something of what the family were going through and I felt for them, so I have wanted to help out.

"We raised quite a lot of money and we will be carrying on raising money."

The auction included a picture of the Worthington Cup final, which Rovers supporter David had attended, and two bottles of champagne, donated by Rovers and Accrington Stanley.

There was also a pictured drawn by local artist Billy Almond, which raised £80.