IT WAS a special football match and fundraiser to remember a young Hampshire father who died after he was hit by a car as he walked home.

More than 300 people including family, friends and relatives gathered for the third Steven Johnson Memorial Day which saw a match at the Test Park Sports Ground in Lower Brownhill Road.

The game saw Stevey J’s 11, made up of Steven’s friends; take on staff from The Saints pub and win 8-4.

After the match a fundraiser was held in The Saints Pub and saw an evening of entertainment and a crowd gathered to watch hundreds of balloons fill up the Millbrook sky.

The money raised will go towards Steven’s three-year-old son Lewi Pike.

Steven, a former Redbridge Community School pupil, was born in Millbrook but had moved to Romsey.

Steven, pictured below, died after being hit by a car as he walked towards his home on the A3057. An inquest returned a verdict of accidental death.

Daily Echo:

Steven’s mum Ange Dandridge gave a heartfelt speech thanking those who turned up.

Ange, said “It has been two years now it seems like only yesterday when we got the tragic news, the pain is still there, and once a year we all get together to remember how well known and loved Stevie was.”

“Thank you for your support, Lewi is a very lucky boy, Stevey would be so very proud.”

Three hundred people turned out to last year’s event, which raised around £2,000 and saw a memorial bench unveiled in Mansel Park, where Liverpool FC fan Steven used to play football.