Charity football match honours Southern 100 rider

A football match with a difference took place at the Ballafletcher sports ground when two mixed teams from the business community met in a charity game.

It was in memory of motorcycle racer Mark Madsen-Mygdal, who was killed during this year's Southern 100 meeting.

Mark was employed at RBS International's Royal Bank House as an Electronic Banking Consultant and had organised the inaugural match the previous year against AXA.

The teams were once again competing for the trophy, which has been re-named as the Mark Madsen- Mygdal Memorial Trophy. 

The purpose of this year's match was two-fold - to honour Mark's memory and raise money for a charity fund which has been established in aid of his young son Conor.

There was a minute's applause at the start of the match as a tribute to Mark and then Conor officially kicked off to get the game under way.

The RBS International team wore t-shirts with the corporate name of the bank on the front but with Mark's racing number - 27 - on the back. 

The match was played in a great spirit with each team playing their part in a fun, lively and competitive game that was a credit to all those taking part and a fitting tribute to Mark.

RBS International ran out 3-2 winners with goals from Aaron Hawley, Jamie Corrin and Chris Corkill, while Connor Dowell scored both AXA's replies.

Awards were presented at a function in the Vagabonds club house after the match by Mark's partner Jemma Bruce-Hurst and her mother Annie.

The man-of-the-match accolade went to Dave O'Flanagan while Lorna Wint was selected as the woman of the match.

The match itself, and other events surrounding it, will have raised approximately £250 for Conor's Fund and there are plans to stage another contest next year.

Samantha Quayle, one of the organisers, said: 'We all had a great deal of fun without losing sight of the main purpose, which was to honour Mark's memory and raise money to help Conor.

'Our thanks go out to everyone who rallied round and assisted.

'It was a great event of which we are all very proud.

'Thanks also go to Jemma's mum Annie, who donated extra prizes to add to the enjoyment of the day.'