A SPORTSMAN'S dinner has raised more than £3,000 in memory of a football referee who died last year.

Teacher, Steve Allon, aged 34, collapsed and died from a heart-attack during a fitness test.

The Horwich-born father-of-two had been a member of Bolton Referees Society for 13 years. Society colleagues held a male-only dinner at the Reebok Stadium, to raise money that will be given to Mr Allon's widow, Sylvia, to place in trust funds for their two young sons, Matthew and Jakob.

Guest speaker and former-Liverpool and England player, David Johnson, entertained 125 guests with tales of his football career and the stars he had played with.

Organiser, Darren Handley, said: "It was a huge success. It was the first event of this type that we've organised. It was a real achievement to raise so much."

Signed Arsenal and England shirts were auctioned-off and there was a raffle and entertainment from Bolton comic Venn Tracey.

Representatives from the FA were present as well as Mr Allon's brother, Simon, who travelled from London.