Warwick's charity football tournament returned to the town for a fifth year on Friday (10 July), raising a grand total of £20,000 since the inaugural tournament.

The Railway Football Tournament was first launched in June 2022 by Network Rail worker Gary Smith after his best friend was diagnosed with motor neurone disease and told he had only a few years to live.

This year's tournament achieved a record-breaking fundraising amount of £7,175.12, bringing the total funds raised through the events to £20,984.83.

The proceeds from this year's event were allocated to various charities and groups as follows:

• The Colebridge Trust Ltd [Kingshurst]: £2,785.06.
• Helping Hands [Leamington Spa]: £2,785.06
• The British Liver Trust [In memory of Rob Coles]: £300
• Legend on the Bench - [Racing Club Warwick F.C] - £345
• Aiden from Warrington DU who has sadly been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease - [Via Jack Dobson] - £500
• MS Society UK - [Lana Doyle Skydive] - £105
• Remember Rufus [Gareth Farmer Marathon] - £155
• Lynsey Merritt [Wayne's wife]: £100
• Dolores Doris [James' wife]: £100

This year's tournament achieved a record-breaking fundraising amount of £7,175.12, bringing the total funds raised through the events to £20,984.83 (image supplied)

Reflecting on the tournament, organiser Gary shared: "I want to say a massive thank you once again to Gary Vella (Racing Club Warwick's chairman), without him this would not be possible, and all of his staff members at the club.

"My committee members Mark Ryder, Benjamin Fairhurst, Phil Langdon, Hugh Robbins and Phil Allen.

"All my volunteers and the amazing photographers David Bray and Jason Grant.

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"The seven match officials and everyone who donated money and a prize for the raffle.

"Nadia Davies from Colebridge Trust and Jacqui Grove and Sophie Hele from Helping Hands for coming to support on the day.

"And finally, a big thank you to the lovely Lesley Husbands and her son Rory who this year sold a whopping £943.24 worth of raffle tickets."

Find out more here.