A MEMORIAL football match in honour of a talented young footballer has raised more than £3,000 for local charities.

The 3rd Jon Palmer Memorial Charity Football Match was held in memory of Jon Palmer, killed killed by a hit-and-run driver in October 2013.

The match at Hanley Swan Village Hall on Sunday, August 14, raised £3,200 with the hope that even more can be raised at next year's match.

A Facebook vote was taken in early July when organisers agreed to split the donations between two charities.

A tie-break on the voting means a quarter of the cash will go to St Richard’s Hospice and a quarter to Winston’s Wish in Gloucestershire.

The other half of this year’s proceeds will go to the St Faith’s Church, Berrow Restoration Appeal which provides funds for the upkeep of the country church where Jonathan is laid to rest.

Jonathan Stuart Palmer, aged 21, was leaving work at the Duke of York pub in Berrow, on the A438 between Ledbury and Tewksbury, at about 1.50am on Monday, October 28 when he was involved in a collision with a green Audi cabriolet which was also leaving the grounds.

Paramedics attended but Mr Palmer was declared dead at the scene.

As previously reported Stephen Hill of Birts Street, Birtsmorton was sentenced to five years in prison for causing death by careless driving.

Jon’s mum, Andrea Palmer who is a trustee at St Richard’s Hospice said: “The Hospice were a great support to our family when we lost my mum, Diana, to breast cancer in 1993 and supported us with bereavement counselling when we lost Jonathan and we really can’t thank them enough for all the work they have done both for us and in the wider Worcestershire community.”

This year the family welcomed the safe arrival of Edward Jonathan Rhys Owen on Saturday, July 9 who was joined by his mother and Jon’s sister, Zoe and her partner Dan and the rest of the family at the match.

The family are grateful for the support of the Aspire Business Partnership.

Jon played as a junior for Abbeymead Rovers in Gloucester before being spotted and invited to join the West Bromwich Albion Academy at the age of nine.

After playing at West Bromwich Albion for a number of years he joined the Gloucester City AFC U18 Youth Team.

During this time Jon sustained a serious knee injury that prevented him from playing for two years.

Upon his recovery Jon joined Hanley Swan FC to start playing again with his local village team in the area where his family now lived.

An under 14s match kicked off at 11am followed by the “veterans” walking football match kicking off at noon with Abbeymead Rovers Walking Football Team versus the Aston Villa Supporters’ Club.

The main match kicked-off at 1pm with Hanley Swan playing alongside some of Jon’s old teammates from Abbeymead Rovers Select IV which included many of his friends from his junior days , some of his Gloucester City team mates and a few additional friends and family who have asked to play at the match.

Graham Holmes, Club Chairman said: “Hanley Swan FC have a reputation for having a strong bond and great team spirit, Jon embraced this, and even though other teams tried to lure him away, he stuck with us and enjoyed playing with his mates.”

Elisabeth Rambridge, who has led the Restoration Appeal and Project at St Faith's, said: "We continue to be overwhelmed by the generous support given to us by Jon's family and friends. It has meant we have repaired the perimeter wall of the churchyard and encouraged us hugely in our efforts to care for this special place that is so cherished. Our Appeal is called Faith in the Future, and that also reflects the extraordinary courage shown by all those who knew and loved Jon."

Jon’s childhood best friend and Abbeymead Rovers teammate, Ross Langworthy, said: “The last three year’s events have been superb; the amount of people that were desperate to get involved in remembering such a popular young lad was astonishing.

"Jonny’s number one passion in life was football (along with a pint) so it’s only right that we continue to remember him in this way.”