YORKLEY football club was the setting for an emotional scene on Boxing Day when the proceeds of a friendly football match were presented, by surprise, back to the club chairman’s own fund to help with his rare form of Parkinson’s disease.

Every year the club hosts the a game on Boxing Day in memory of Mark Burgess, who died in 2002, with the proceeds going to his family.

The year’s match, the 13th annual game, raised £1,284, which the chairman, Mark Hudson, went to present to Iris Burgess, the mother of Mark.

But instead of taking the money, Mrs Burgess returned it to him to help with his mobility issues connected with his condition.

That wasn’t the only surprise – after the match money was donated to him, Mr Hudson was further shocked when Steve Jeffs from Yorkley football club added £1,000 to his fund as well.

In an emotional response on social media, Mr Hudson said: “Well what a day yesterday was.

“An amazing £1,280 raised in memory of Mark, and then the Burgess family totally pull the floor from under my feet and donate the money raised to myself.

“I honestly didn’t have a clue, and am still struggling to come to terms with it.

“I can only say thank you so much to the money raisers there yesterday.

“You are a fantastic group of people, who don’t just support the Mark Burgess memorial, but have supported everything I have done within the football club for so many years.”

He added: “You are a special group of people and I cannot tell you how much this is going to help me stay as mobile as I can in the near future.

“Thank you to all of Mark Burgess’ family.”

Mr Hudson told the Review: “I did not have a clue that they would donate the money back to my fund.

“It was just such a special and amazing moment. I still can hardly believe how kind these people are.

“We have, together, raised money for a lot of funds over the years, as well as Mark’s memorial, and in the 16 years that I have been there this group have raised over £30,000 for various charities.”

Mark Burgess, aged 19 years old, died on Boxing Day 2002 in Frenchay Hospital, Bristol, after he was attacked while walking home from a Christmas party at a pub in Whitecroft and the football match is held annually in his memory.

The game was followed by refreshments and an auction, conducted by Chris Howard, at the Nag’s Head.

For more pictures see this week’s Review.