FRIENDS of a murdered footballer are playing in a tournament in his memory next week.

Six teams are turning out at Coundon, County Durham, on Sunday, June 4, for former Newcastle United Reserves striker Gary Walton, a father of two young girls, who was 37 when he was attacked in a pub garden in July 2000.

The competition was held annually in December until last year when it was called off because of heavy snow. Organisers now say it could be given a permanent summer slot.

Mr Walton's Newcastle team-mate Alan Shoulder expects a crowd of between 300 and 400 to watch the matches, which start at 10am at Coundon and Leeholme Recreation Ground.

Afterwards there is entertainment in Coundon Working Men's Club from vocalist Stenna, who played football in Coundon at the same time as Mr Walton.

The club has entered a team in the tournament along with Coundon Old Boys, Coundon Conservative Club, Coundon and Leeholme Youth XI, the Foresters Arms and a group of Mr Walton's friends and supporters.

Mr Shoulder said: "They are all keen to turn out so that Gary is not forgotten.

"It is good for the village that all the teams are playing. Everybody is looking forward to it."

Former jump jockey Christy McGrath, an Irishman who had been riding for Norman Mason's yard at Brancepeth, near Durham, is serving a life sentence after pleading guilty to Mr Walton's murder in January 2001.