A TRIBUTE band has raised more than £6,000 for a charity which helps to support ex-professional footballers like Gary Parkinson.

The Chilli Monkeys donated the money from their Roundhouse gig to the Professional Footballers’ Association Benevolent Fund which helps ex-members of the PFA and their dependents who are in conditions of need and distress.

The former Bolton Wanderers right-back was diagnosed with locked-in syndrome three years ago after suffering a severe stroke.

Gary’s family, including his wife Deborah and their children Chloe and Luke, and Luke’s girlfriend Beth Whittingham, attended the evening on his behalf.

The band, featuring Ian Settle, from Westhoughton, Michael Slater, who works at KBL Solicitors in Bolton, Scott Woodward and Colin Lawrence-Sykes, first formed in 2009 to play a one-off gig for charity.

But the band, named after the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Arctic Monkeys, went on to perform three more sell-out concerts and have raised more than £25,000 in total for different charities.

Mr Settle, who works at NatWest, said: “It was a great night — we were really pleased that we managed to raise £6,100 for the Professional Footballers’ Association Benevolent Fund.

“It was really good to see Deborah and her family at the gig too, as the money will go towards helping families like Gary’s.

“From a music point of view there’s nothing better than playing a gig, but when it’s for charity and you see where the money goes and the difference that it makes it much more worthwhile.”

Mrs Parkinson added: “It was such a good night and the band were great. We’ve never seen them before but the venue was packed out, the atmosphere was great and we all thoroughly enjoyed it.

“I would really like to thank the band for their support in raising money for the PFA Benevolent Fund which has really helped Gary and many others like him.”