England may be travelling to Russia in two weeks for a vital football match but one Teesside player came the other way, for an equally important game.

Michael McBride, 31, who is working in the former Soviet Union, flew home to Teesside for the special game.

Construction worker Michael, his 33-year-old brother Kevin with friends Chris Simpson and Gary Llewellyn organised a memorial match following the death from bowel cancer in 2004 of the brother's 56-year-old father Middlesbrough born businessman Kevin.

And they have organised a charity football match every year since. Last year's soccer match raised £4,000.

They announced today that this year's game, held on the August bank holiday weekend, raised £5,700 to be shared by the Holistic Cancer Unit at Middlesbrough's James Cook Hospital and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

Veronica McBride, Michael and Kevin jnr's aunt said: "Our heartfelt thanks to all those who sponsored, supported and attended the match.

"Michael came all the way from Russia where he is working, to play. He came home especially to play in the football match. And we just want to thank everybody who supported us. The Dorman's football ground was given to us without charge.

"The match is going to be an ongoing thing."