COMMUNITY conscious Stourbridge Football club raised more than £10,000 to help local Parkinson's sufferers after staging a family fun day.

The high point of the event, held at the War Memorial Ground in Amblecote in April, was a challenge football match between Stourbridge Old Boys and their counterparts from Halesowen Town which finished in a 2-2 draw and attracted a huge crowd.

There was also plenty of children's entertainment taking place together with live music from local artists Esther Turner, Voodoo and Matthew Socci.

Sarah Wakeman, regional fundraiser for Parkinsons UK, said: "We are incredibly grateful to Stourbridge Football Club for raising such a fantastic amount of money.

"We rely totally on public support and this money raised will go a long way towards helping people with Parkinsons."

Stourbridge Football Club chairman and businessman Andy Pountney said: "It's the third charity day we've staged at the club.

"We held one for local BMX rider Callum Loveridge who broke his neck in a tragic accident and we've also staged an event for Mary Stevens Hospice.

"However, Parkinsons is something which is very close to my heart as my own father Derek Pountney suffered from it.

"I've been involved with Stourbridge Football Club for the past five seasons and it's my aim to support local good causes.

"We already do regular bucket collections and it's my intention to stage a family fun day every season to support a local charity.

"During my time at the club, we must have raised in the region of £25,000 and we will continue to support local charities.

"I must also thank support from local building firm A & H Construction and Imperial Commercials, who sell trucks and vans in Lye for their substantial financial contribution.

"But the club are also keen to strengthen links with the local community as well.

"Next season Stourbridge will be running 21 sides, 19 of which will be junior sides.

"To accommodate that number, we have brokered a deal with King Edward VI College, the Football Association and the English Cricket Board to develop facilities at Greenfields playing fields on Swinford Road.

"A total of £450,000 has been spent on creating new changing facilities, with the bulk of the money being provided by the FA. The majority of our teams play at Swinford Road which will also be home to the first team during the summer.

"We've also strengthened links with the cricket club, who groundshare the facilities with us at Amblecote, and the Birmingham League which will enable us to play matches at the War Memorial Ground during July and August, which is something that would never have happened in the past.

"As a result, we will be staging two Northern Premier League games at Amblecote in August.

"We have also arranged pre-season matches with Stafford Rangers on July 28 and Lye Town on August 4."