FRIENDS of a teenager who died in a car crash raised £1,000 for his family at a football match held in his memory.

Liam Ball, from Malvern, died, aged 17, in a crash in Walsall, near Birmingham, last month.

Two of Liam’s friends set up a football match between his old side and a rival team to help pay for his funeral.

Lucy Evans, aged 17, who helped set up the game in Malvern, said: “The event went amazingly.

“Malvern Town Wanderers and Newtown Sports Colts went head-to-head to see who could win.

“Malvern – Liam’s team – won by seven goals to one. Liam’s younger brother came on in the last 15 minutes, scoring an amazing six goals, which helped Malvern take the lead.

“More than 230 people attended to help support and raise money for Liam’s family. We raised exactly £1,000 at the event and £2,700 on the Just Giving page.

“We want to thank everyone who helped support us all and to everyone who donated.”

Callum Fisher, aged 17, who organised the match alongside Miss Evans, said they raised money through an entry fee and collection buckets.

He added that the players also signed commemorative t-shirts and the football they played with during the match, handing them over to Liam’s mum at the end of the game.

Mr Fisher, of Leigh Sinton Road, Malvern, said Liam’s friends and family also observed a minute’s silence and released balloons, before the game started.

The match took place at Malvern Town Football Club on September 9, two days after Liam’s funeral in St Edburga church, in Leigh, near Worcester.