A MEMORIAL football match has raised more than £2,000 in memory of a former Ross High School pupil.

Sean Jardine lost his battle with leukaemia in August 2014, and last weekend, family, friends and former team-mates pulled on their boots in memory of the 17-year-old.

A team of his family and friends, led by 21-year-old brother Brandon, faced a side from the now-defunct Joppa United, where Sean was captain.

They faced off at Hibs’ East Mains training complex near Ormiston, and Karen Herd, Sean’s mum, was delighted with the turnout.

She told the Courier: “It was an absolutely brilliant day – I cannot thank everyone enough.

“The turnout was good, especially considering the weather wasn’t great.”

The match was won 4-2 by Sean’s former Joppa United team-mates.

Entry to East Mains cost £5, while each of the players paid the same amount as a disco was held in the Brig Inn in Tranent on Saturday evening.

Generous donations and raffle prizes, including a microlight flight, tickets to a Hibernian home match and a signed Hibs ball, all helped to raise the impressive £2,200 total.

Karen added: “The evening was for the boys, after they had played all day.

“It was a really good night. We had some really good raffle prizes – the Hibs ball and the tickets are especially ironic considering Sean was a huge Hearts fan!”

Indeed, the team of Sean’s family and friends had been offered Hibernian kit to wear for the game, but turned down the offer, with his mum saying: “He wouldn’t have been too pleased about them wearing Hibs strips, so they found sponsorship and got strips.

“The Joppa lads wore Hibs away kits, though, and I’d like to say a huge thank you to Hibs for all their help.”

All the money raised will go to the Make A Wish Foundation, a cause close to the family’s hearts.

Throughout his illness, Sean, who played football at Ross High School, refused to accept he could have a wish until the latter stages.

“He asked to drive a Lamborghini round the track at Silverstone, and he was going to do it for his 18th birthday, but unfortunately Sean passed away before that was possible,” Karen said.

She added: “We think [the charity] do a really wonderful job, which is why we chose them this year.”