Lancaster pubs match up on football field for great cause

A charity football match between the Park and the Freeholders raised more than Â£1,200 for Dementia UK.

Teams from the Freeholders Arms on Ullswater Road and the Park Hotel on St Oswald Street played a match at the University of Cumbria where around 40 players took part.

Mandy Maguire of the Park Hotel and Julie Strain of the Freeholders decided to arrange the game after Mandy’s mum Maureen was diagnosed with dementia.

Team managers were Kevin Leck of the Freeholders and Tony Rodgers of the Park.

Players of all ages paid £5 to take part and a crowd of around 200 spectators braved the cold to support the charity and the two teams.

The Park Hotel ran out 6-2 victors and became the inaugural winners of the coveted Tony Booth Memorial Cup.

The referee was Yan Jackson.

After the game both teams returned to the Freeholders Arms to carry on with the fundraiser. It included a prize raffle with many donations and prizes from generous local people and businesses. In all, the regulars from the two pubs raised £1211.80 for Dementia UK. A return match is scheduled for February.

Thanks went to Julie, Janet, Andrea and Sheryl from the Freeholders for helping to organise the day and to Mandy and everyone from the Park Hotel and the Freeholders Arms who gave up their time to support the charity.