CARING friends of a teenager who died last summer from meningitis are hoping to raise hundreds of pounds in his memory.

Michael Read, of the Fairway, Alsager had celebrated his 19th birthday just four days before he died last August while his parents, Jen and Alan, were just a few days into a holiday.

Michael had completed the first year of a geography degree at Leicester University and was a keen sportsman and football fan when he was struck down by the disease.

A group of his friends received counselling from the Meningitis Research Foundation after his death and decided to raise money to help the fund's work.

This Sunday a 20-a-side football match will be held at Alsager Town's football ground with the organisers hoping to raise up to £500 and they are hopeful it could become an annual event.

One of the organisers, Neil Reid, and Michael's best friend, Tom Lancaster, are expecting some of his friends from Leicester to visit and are hoping Michael's dad Alan will referee.

"Since it happened last year we had people from the Meningitis Fund here to give us counselling and help us," said Neil.

"Michael's best friend Tom suggested doing something to raise money and said do you fancy having a football match.

"Everyone taking part has taken a sponsorship form into work and we're hoping to raise about £500. We've got a trophy and it's going to be kept at the Cricket Club because that's where we used to go."

Kick off for the match is 3pm.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.