A CHARITY football match is being held next week in memory of a popular pub landlord who died last year.

Charlie Crompton, who ran the Morning Star pub in Thomas Street, died at his home on October 27 at the age of 56 after suffering heart problems in his sleep.

The Manchester City fan’s friends and family are now coming together to host the charity game in aid of the British Heart Foundation (BHF) on Saturday July 25.

His son Stuart, who has since taken over the running of the pub, said: “I know there are going to be a lot of people coming down, which is great.

“It’s really quite overwhelming to think that it will be about nine months since he passed away and there are still a good number of people wanting to organise events like this in my dad’s name.

“I’m quite surprised by it all, but it’s very good to know that he made such a positive impact on a lot of people.”

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.

The Morning Star’s football team will be taking on a group of the pub’s ‘old boys’, with around 40 players already signed up to feature in the match.

The event, which has been organised by friends Lee Madden, Ian Drinkwater, and John McGuigan, will also include a raffle.

Mr Madden, of Jubilee Avenue, said: “This has been in the works since around Christmas time and a few of us have put our heads together now to make it happen. Charlie was a great guy and he always got on well with everybody in Radcliffe.

“We wanted to get together and do something in his memory to make sure his name didn’t just disappear. We are going to have a great day and try to raise as much money as we possibly can.”

The charity match will take place at 2pm at Hollinhurst Park.