Hundreds turn out for Dan’s memorial match

he would have been in his element getting wet.

“Despite what happened it wasn’t hard at all. The lads helped with that by approaching it in the right way.”

Former Crossley Heath headteacher Wendy Moffat and other staff from the school attended.

Crossley Heath players Dylan Hill, Harry Thorpe and Elijah Peers-Webb, all aged 12, thought it went well.

Dylan said: “Dave gave us a choice of a minute’s applause or silence at the start of the match, but we all thought it would be better to celebrate Dan’s life with applause.” Harry added: “I think Dan would have been proud of everyone.”

Elijah said: “We played together really well. We came together better as a team than we ever have before.”

Dave recently set up a charity in his son’s memory, The DB12 Foundation, which will use sport ‘as a vehicle to help school students to improve their attainment in the classroom, teach kids the value of determination, going the extra mile, self-reliance and creativity.’

The match was the charity’s first event and it raised £565.

Entry was free but there were collection buckets, as well as programmes and wristbands on sale.

An inquest into Dan’s death has been opened and adjourned. Dave Beal said refereeing the match in memory of his son wasn’t hard thanks to the respectful behaviour of the boys