WHEN family and friends decided to do something special to remember Manchester United mad teenager Kyle Rayner they thought of the perfect event - a football tournament.

Friends were determined to pay a fitting tribute to Kyle, who died three years ago, aged just 17.

So his parents Julie and George Rayner decided to organise a tournament at Wyresdale AFC, Breightmet, which involved Kyle's friends and former school pals from Canon Slade School.

Now in its third year, the 11-a-side tournament has been a great success and this year's poignant event came to a climax when Samba beat Wyresdale AFC in the final to lift the Kyle Rayner Memorial Trophy.

Mum Julie, said: "It was something Kyle's friends wanted to do for him. Kyle was football mad and was a big Manchester United fan, so a group of his mates bought a football cup and the tournament was born.

"It started off three years ago with ten teams. It was a bit manic because George and I did not know what we were doing. But now we have scaled it down to eight teams and that seems to work.

"Every year we start the tournament off with all eight teams lining up to take part in a minute's silence for Kyle. It brings home what the tournament is about. The lads are always so unbelievably enthusiastic, they keep asking us when the tournament is about to start.

"This year's tournament went really well, it seems the event is getting better every year. I'm sure Kyle would be happy seeing this tournament being played."