FOOTBALLING friends are teaming up to remember a former star striker murdered in a pub attack last year.

Pals of one-time Newcastle junior Gary Walton have already raised thousands of pounds for a trust fund securing the future of his daughters Kara, nine, and 12-year-old Laura.

Some of the past and present stars of North-East football, including Bryan Robson, Chris Waddle and Peter Reid, launched the fund with a game between Newcastle and a combined Sunderland and Middlesbrough XI in September last year.

This was followed by an end-of-year match played in his home village of Coundon between two pub sides he turned out for after leaving Newcastle in the early 1980s.

This year, on Boxing Day, a family fun day will be arranged around a four-team tournament at Coundon Workmen's Club.

Organiser Alan Shoulder, a former Newcastle favourite who encouraged Gary to join him at St James Park, hopes ex-players will join in the games between Coundon and Leeholme Juniors, The Foresters, the working men's club and a former club and Three Tuns side.

He said: "Gary played for a lot of local sides including all the teams involved and most of the players would know him.

The day opens with children's entertainment from 10am and there will be a buffet and karaoke.

To take part, contact Alan Shoulder on (01388) 601253.

Former jump jockey Christy McGrath is serving a life sentence for Gary Walton's murder after pleading guilty at Teesside Crown Court last January.