A SPORTSMAN charity evening is to be held in memory of a local footballer who died on Christmas Day.

Bradford City legend Dean Windass, Lee Sharpe and Jon Parkin will be the guest speakers at the event to remember Nick Wade who played for Wyke Wanderers.

The club are hosting the event on Tuesday, March 24, for the 33-year-old “gentle giant” who died on Christmas Day just days after having an operation to cure a long-standing condition.

Nick, who had played for Wyke Wanderers from a young age, had been suffering from ulcerative colitis for years.

All proceeds will go to the Nicholas Wade Memorial Fund and Crohn’s and Colitis UK.

Also on the bill will be comedians John Stiles, John Scott, Lee Roberts and Gary Marshall.

Organiser Dave Ryan said the speakers had been willing to help out.

He said: “They were willing and able and we’re quite grateful. They are giving their time for free.

“We are aiming to raise £2-2,500 and will be really pleased.”

He said they were aiming to sell 80-100 tickets and have got plenty left to sell.

After the Sportsman evening, there are plans for more events for the rest of the season to support the fund.

The evening will be held at 7.30pm at Scholes Sports and Social Club, Cleckheaton. Tickets cost £20.

There will be a pie and peas supper.

People interested in buying a tickets should contact club secretary Mr Ryan on 07796 246335.

Donations to an auction would also be very welcome.

Mr Ryan thanked the people who had helped and so far they have been offered Bradford City tickets, a light aircraft flight and fourball golf days as highlights.

There will also be other raffle and auction prizes.

After suffering in silence for over four years Nick decided to share his struggle with ulcerative colitis in a Facebook post in January 2019.

He made the decision to have his large bowel removed and was admitted to hospital on December 17 and had major surgery on December the 19.

Following an eight-hour-long procedure he recovered in hospital before being allowed to return home to his girlfriend Charlotte and her children on Christmas Eve.

But he died the next day following unexpected complications of his surgery.

Mr Ryan described Nick was a local lad who went to Wyke Wanderers as a junior at the age of six or seven and rejoined the club last season.

He was utility player who could play in every position and he described him as “a gentle giant”.

“He was well-known in footballing, a big strong lad. As a centre-half he was quite dominant,” added Mr Ryan.

The Memorial Fund for Nick has so far raised £3,361 of its £10,000 target to provide support to Nick’s loved ones and to raise money for Crohn’s and Colitis UK.

Included in that is £1,100 donated by Nick’s dad Keith who had collected the cash at Nick’s funeral and had also got a donation from his employer Amazon TV.