A FOOTBALL festival at Pitreavie held in memory of a tragic young player is to raise around £2,000 for Edinburgh’s Sick Kids Hospital.

Organised by Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts 2006s and North Queensferry FC 2006s coaches Fraser Neil and Danny Creasy, the seven-a-side tournament in tribute to Owen Nisbet attracted 280 kids, from 28 teams, from West Fife and beyond to play on Saturday.

Kennoway Juniors player Owen, 11, died after a short battle with cancer in October last year and inspired Fraser and Neil to host a tournament in his honour.

All proceeds from the event will be donated to an online appeal launched by the 2006 age group player’s family in aid of the Sick Kids, where he lost his fight for life.

The competition was won overall by Glasgow’s Burnbank FC, with Edinburgh South finishing runners-up, while the Swifts and Kennoway reached the semi-finals.

Fraser said: “Saturday was absolutely fantastic and the boys all had a great day.

“We raised just over £550 on the day and, although we’re waiting for the final total, it looks like we’re going to raise £2,000 or just over.

“When we initially set out to do this, we were aiming to have 12 teams and raise a couple of hundred quid, but we’ve been blown away by people’s generosity in donating prizes.

“We reached far and wide with this, which is great. Owen’s dad was there and was very thankful that, for all that has happened, there is some good coming from it.”