A Bath football team has played a charity match in memory of their former teammate who died five years ago.
AFC Durbin, which was created and named after 22-year-old Anthony Durbin who died back in 2008, took on Pig and Fiddle FC in a friendly game this afternoon at Bath City FC's ground in Twerton.
The idea was to celebrate Anthony's life, while at the same time raising money for Papyrus, a national charity which works to prevent suicide among young people.
The team's manager Dominic Violante said they were all proud to remember their friend and teammate in such a positive way.
He said: "This is a significant year because it is the fifth anniversary of Anthony's death and he wore the number five shirt, which he was buried in, so the number five is quite a significant thing for us.
"Over the past five years the family have supported us and I think we have supported them, we have inspired each other.
"I think it has been therapeutic for the players to play football with his name on their shirts and I know the family feel that too."
Anthony's parents Kev and Denise, who live in Oldfield Park, were at the game with their son Stuart and daughters Laura and Kat.
The couple said they had wanted it to be an upbeat day for everyone involved and that the football team had been a lifeline for them at such a difficult time.
Mr Durbin said: "It has been wonderful because it keeps his memory alive.
"They were all great pals of his and we have been helping out with the team in any way we can.
"Having the team has made life a lot easier for us because we know he is not forgotten and I know that it has helped all his friends."
Anthony's parents were not regulars at his football matches when he was alive, but since his death they have become actively involved with the club and always make sure they are at the weekly games.
Mrs Durbin said: "I don't know where we would be without them.
"I also think we have helped them a lot too, it is not a football team, it is like a big family."
She added: "When he was alive I didn't realise how many people he knew.
"It wasn't just young people his age, it was everyone. He would stop and speak to people on his way to work. We got lots of letters from people telling us that they didn't really know him, but he used to speak to them when he went past."
AFC Durbin striker Nick Archer said all the players enjoyed keeping Anthony's memory alive through the team.
The 26-year-old, from Oldfield Park, said: "I think mainly it has helped the family a lot. They never came to watch before, but now I think it gives them peace of mind to see what his friends are like."
