A football team will host a special commemorative match to remember a club legend who died earlier this year.

Halstead Town Football club is dedicating its annual Football Fiesta event to former player and manager Shaun Bailey.

Mr Bailey, 54, died in March following a long-term battle with a brain tumour.

A Chairman’s XI and a Youth Secretary’s XI will face each other in a friendly which will be held in honour of Mr Bailey.

Both will compete to win the Dave Osborne Memorial Shield, which has been specially made for the event to also remember former Halstead Gazette sports editor David Osborne, who died aged 81 in September 2016.

Youth Secretary Carl Pearse said: “This is our fourth year we have had a charity day on FA Cup final day.

“It will be a strange day because its about the community having fun but it will also be tinged with sadness because its also about Shaun.

“I think with Shaun as he was so close to everyone here, the club wants to do something really special for him such as doing up the stadium and naming part of it after him.

“We have a number of ideas we are working on so this will be the start of that process.”

The club are hoping a member of Mr Bailey’s family will be able to present the memorial shield to the winning team.

Alongside the match, there will be a barbecue and the FA Cup Final will also be shown.

Activities for children include a bouncy castle and face painting, while spectators will get a chance to take part in a penalty shootout.

The day will end with a disco in the evening and All funds raised on the day will go towards the Shaun Bailey Fund.

Mr Bailey played for Halstead Town FC between 1993 and 1996 and went on to become manager in 2000.

The Football Fiesta event will take place on Saturday, May 19 at Halstead Town Football Club, off Rosemary Lane.

Gates will open from 12.30pm and the match will begin at 2pm.