A MEMORIAL tournament in honour of a late Dunfermline Water Polo Club stalwart will return for a second time this weekend.

The life and legacy of Brian Campbell, a former Scotland international synonymous with the club, will be remembered and celebrated at the BMC Cup, with eight teams set to play in matches today (Saturday) and tomorrow (Sunday.)

First held 12 months ago, the competition has been created by Brian's three sons, Alasdair, Darren and Chris, themselves players with Dunfermline, as a way of marking his contribution to the sport.

In December 2019, Brian, who coached Dunfermline to a British Cup win at under-16 level, as well as holding various administrative roles with the club, died at the age of just 61 after a brave battle with cancer.

Following his death, Scottish Water Polo praised the "enormous time" he had invested in "coaching the younger generation", which included those involved with Scotland and Caledonia boys' teams, the latter being a composite side featuring players from Dunfermline and other Scottish clubs, to compete in British Water Polo League competitions.

The inaugural BMC Cup, which was backed by the Press, saw under-18 boys' teams from Dunfermline, Warrender, Portobello, Menzieshill, REN and Stirling play across one day of action, with the latter winning the tournament.

It has now grown to feature two groups of four teams, three of whom – Radcliffe, Northampton and Sedgefield – are travelling north from England.

Portobello, Warrender, Menzieshill, Stirling and a 'Brian's Boys' team complete the line-up, and Alasdair, who also coaches with the University of Edinburgh, Scotland's under-18s, said: "It's looking really good. It was always our goal to make it a proper water polo tournament.

"When you go to the Olympics, it is a two-week event. We are never going to get as good as that but a proper UK tournament is held over the whole weekend. It will be on Saturday and Sunday, all day.

"It means we need double the helpers, which is the hardest part, but the part I'm most grateful for; we've had too many people hoping to help! It's great because Brian touched them all in different ways."

Like last year, which was heralded as a huge success and saw a packed balcony for the final, the event will be held at Carnegie Leisure Centre and will be free for anyone who wishes to watch.

"I remember three years ago, at my dad's funeral, standing up and saying that we're going to create a water polo tournament," Alasdair continued.

"It's pretty amazing. I hope it goes well and the support we've had stays for a few years.

"We want people to mark the first weekend in December in their calendar as that's the BMC Cup."

As well as matches taking place from 9am-5pm both days, a raffle will take place, with items up for grabs including a signed Dunfermline Athletic ball, a signed Scotland rugby shirt, a signed Hibernian FC shirt; a signed water polo ball by Konstantinos Genidounias and George Dervisis, who won silver medals with Greece at the Olympic Games; a signed cap and t-shirt by Montenegro international Dušan Matković, a £75 Amazon voucher, bluetooth wireless headphones, gift hampers and many more.

Merchandise, which is also available to buy ahead of the weekend, will be on sale, including t-shirts, hoodies, towels, mugs and more, sales of which will help to fund the event moving forward.

For more information, find The BMC Cup on Facebook or email theBMCcup@gmail.com.