A CHARITY football game featuring a host of ex-Burnley stars will take place this summer in memory of a popular amateur sportsman.

Tommy Robertson, from Nelson, died aged 49 last July after a seven-year battle with a brain tumour.

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His daughters, Loretta Tatham and Rebecca Robertson, have arranged for 33 of his pals to ‘Turn out for Tommy’ and take on the ex-professionals.

Mr Robertson, originally from Glasgow and known as ‘Scotch Tommy’, played football for Brierfield Celtic and snooker for the Short Homers Working Men’s Club in Nelson.

The Vintage Clarets, featuring former Turf Moor favourites Roger Eli, David Eyres and Paul Weller, will play three 30-minute games against teams made up of Mr Robertson’s friends in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

Miss Robertson, 23, said: “Dad was diagnosed seven years before he died.

“He recovered pretty much to the point of remission, then it came back again.

“Nearer the end, the way Macmillan treated him was first-class. We wouldn’t have the memories we do without their help.”

Mr Robertson’s family, including his wife, Linda, have already raised more than £1,300 in the past nine months with a series of bucket collections.

Mrs Tatham said: “My dad was the kind of person that would live every minute to the full, and was so so grateful for all the help he received throughout his life and even more so near the end of his life.

“Anybody who has lost a parent, regardless of how, when, where and why, will know of the huge void it leaves when they are taken away. I have had to learn this the hard way.

“I had to watch my dad become a very poorly shell of his former self right before my very eyes – all because of this stupid disease we call cancer.

“My dad was never one to go down without a fight and if the money raised can help at least one family like ours get to spend precious time with their family members, well then that’s a job well done as far as I’m concerned.”

The game will take place at The Arbories Memorial Sports Ground, home of Padiham FC, from 2pm on July 25.

Admission, from noon, will cost £2.50.

A host of East Lancashire businesses, including Silentnight, Oddie’s Bakery, Homeclean of Pendle, It’s My Party, Brown’s Ladders and Ceilings Ltd, have agreed to sponsor the match and raffle prizes.