JUNIOR players from a village football team have lifted the Ian Lowery trophy. 

Stocksfield U8 Panthers played in the Tynedale Mini Soccer League (TMSL) at Wentworth Leisure Centre in Hexham.

The five-aside games marked the return of the tournament after Covid put paid to the event for nearly three years.

READ MORE: https://www.hexham-courant.co.uk/news/20199112.football-matches-remember-george-mccreedy-mbe-ian-lowery-prudhoe/

Former Blackpool FC youth player and Prudhoe youth worker Ian died suddenly aged 45 in November 2020.

Ian's promising career at the North West club was cut short by injury but he continued to coach youngsters locally.

He was also heavily involved with Prudhoe's now-defunct East Centre and the Prudhoe Youth charity shop.

After his death, commemorative seats were installed across the town, football strips were donated to school teams and a family day was held in memory of Ian and the late George McCreedy MBE and former councillor, who had been involved with Prudhoe Youth FC, who died in 2021 aged 76.

U8 coach and chairman, David McMillan, said: "Ian Lowery was a fantastic supporter of local grassroots football, a real Prudhoe man who put so much time, effort and love into his local club.

"We are really very proud and honoured to have won this lovely trophy in memory of this great man.

"It's wonderful people, like Ian, who keep our local Tynedale grassroots football thriving with support from our local TMSL committee, who do a great job with all our mini soccer teams in putting on these tournaments."

David also said he hoped to see the restart of football in schools.