FAMILY and friends have paid tribute to football fanatic Keiren Edney, who died of suspected meningitis last month, at a memorial day held at Melksham Town Football Club. 

Hundreds of people gathered to remember the 21-year-old teaching assistant at the club on Cedar Lane on Sunday where Melksham Town U16s and Melksham X1 faced the coaches of The Charlie Austin Football School and the Calne Eagles - all teams Mr Edney was involved with.

"This is what he loved the most so it is absolutely perfect. He is definitely shining down on us today," Lydia Williams, his girlfriend of four years said. 

"There are teams he coached, teams he played for and a team of his best mates that he loved. I am doing okay and the best I can be - like they say, I am truly an Edney now and I think I will be for life."

To pay tribute to the much loved coach, a minutes silence was held before the matches and all players wore a black armband. Mr Edney's father Dale also made an appearance for both Melksham and Calne wearing his son's kit. 

His mother Louise Edney said: "Everyone has been amazing and so have the messages of support. We have decided to support Meningitis Now because I think they do really good work and they have been in touch with us to offer support and help off their own backs which is lovely. 

"People have been so generous and we raised about £750 at the service and £500 from the donation page which went to the RUH Forever Friends Appeal." 

The club also held a large raffle with prizes ranging from a shirt donated by Charlie Austin, a one way limo ride to Bath for five people and a variety of vouchers donated from businesses across the county, something which organiser Steve Hooper and club manager Darren Perrin was delighted with. 

Mr Perrin said: "We are delighted to be able to host this memorial day but we wish we were not in this situation. But it is fantastic to see the turn out for such a nice and popular lad like Keiren. 

"It speaks volumes for who he was and the people of Melksham have come out to support the family in the face of adversity and in such sad times."