A football tournament held in the memory of Haji Suleman Atcha raised nearly £900 for charitable causes. Suleman, the Deane and Derby CC stalwart, passed away on Tues 16 September and was buried a day later on Weds 17th September in New Overdale Cemetery, Bolton.

Ten teams competed in the inaugural competition organized by Deane & Derby Cricket Club on Sunday 26th October. The winners were a local team JEMZ who beat Pingu FC by 2 goals to nil in the final; the latter had travelled from Blackburn.

On Thursday two containers will be loaded full of humanitarian goods including winter clothing, medical aid and hygiene kits for their journey to Syria. Volunteers including Suleman’s son Mohammed will be loading the merchandise.

This will be taking place at the HQ of the Bolton based global charity Ummah Welfare Trust, on St Helens Road, Bolton.

The containers will recognize the contributions of Suleman who was an avid supporter of the charity and in his memory will bear his name on a banner.

Mohammed will also present some funds to the charity on the day.

Mohammed said “ in the light of the negative publicity about Syria and the tragedy of Alan Henning, this is all that we are interested in and that is helping those in need. My father would have been immensely proud of this moment. I cannot thank UWT enough”.