Mum's memory kept alive by supermarket footy

A football rivalry between two of the UK's biggest supermarkets has kept the memory of a Worcestershire woman alive 29 years after her death.

On Sunday, staff at Tesco and Morrisons in Evesham will once again face off against one another in their annual fundraising football match, held at Evesham United Football Club's Jubilee Stadium.

Since 1998, the event has been organised by Tesco employee Mark Payne who wanted to give something back to St Richard's Hospice which cared for his mum Gill when she had breast cancer.

"I think she'd be very proud," he said. "She was always caring and helpful, and that's part of the reason I've carried it on, to be honest."

Payne, who began working at the supermarket giant in 1995, added: "Both stores chipped in some money for a trophy and a man of the match trophy and it's just gone from there really.

"And here we are 28 years later. It would be 29, but the only year it didn't happen was 2020, because of Covid.

"I didn't think I'd still be working for Tesco for 31 years but here we are - it's flown by."

He said of the game: "It's a friendly rivalry. Obviously it's for charity but there's definitely a rivalry."

In total, the supermarket derby has raised more than £35,000 for St Richard's Hospice, which is based in Worcester.

Discussing his mum, Payne said: "She was a happy and friendly person. She was a great mum. She never smoked, never drank but still got cancer.

"She had just turned 54 when she passed away. Me and my sister have grown up to be parents ourselves and our kids never got the joy to see their grandmother alive.

"It's sad but this match is keeping her memory alive."

He added: "Over the years, you meet people who haven't just been affected by cancer but all sorts of illnesses and St Richards are there to care for them.

"Anyone in that situation is just put at ease by the care they offer. It's just a really, really lovely charity and they're always there for people in their time of need."

Sunday's match will kick off at 17:00 BST, with admission on the door at £3 for adults and £2 for children under 16.

Every penny raised will go to St Richard's Hospice. ITV Central reporter Dan Salisbury-Jones will be on hand to award the trophy to the winning side.

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