HUNDREDS of people attended a memorial football match to celebrate the lives of three friends who were killed in a car crash.

Friends and family of Tom Petty and Phillip Wright, both 25, and Tom’s girlfriend Jessica Foxley, 21, united at the charity game between Colne fire station and Pendle Athletic, which Athletic won 8-0.

The friends, who were all from Colne and worked for Pendle Leisure Trust, were returning from a wedding when their car crashed into a wall in Skipton Old Road in July.

The match saw Tom’s former colleagues at Colne fire station, where he had been a retained firefighter, take on his and Phillip’s football team, Pendle Athletic, at the XLCR Stadium, at Holt House, home of Colne FC.

Stephanie Briggs, 27, said: “It is a testament to how popular they were to see such a huge turnout.

“We saw a rainbow this morning and we thought of Jessica and how it could have been her contribution.

“They were three lovely people with wonderful personalities, and everyone here today will miss them.”

Signed Burnley, Real Madrid and Liverpool shirts, £200 in Debenhams vouchers and vouchers for local restaurants were also raffled.

Margaret Foxley, Jessica’s mother, addressed the crowd before the game. She said: “Politicians talk about developing communities, but we have proven today that we do not need to learn that lesson.

“I am sure I speak on behalf of all the families when I say we have been overwhelmed by the support we have received by this special community in Colne.

“We will relish the memories and celebrate the lives of Thomas, Phillip and Jessica.”

Money raised was split between the families’ chosen charities, Fire Fighters Charity, Macmillan Cancer Support and Pendleside Hospice.