HUNDREDS of grassroots football fans flocked to Homers Heath last Sunday to remember former Buckland Athletic chairman Roy Holmes.

The club had organised a match between the Buckland Athletic All Stars and a Devon & Cornwall Select XI to be played in his memory.

A host of former players dusted off their boots to get involved on the day, with the ground Holmes was so key in building basking in the Bank Holiday sunshine.

‘It’s pretty much the perfect day, to be honest with you,’ said Buckland’s director of football Adam Castle.

‘When you put something on like this you’re always a little bit anxious as to how it might go.

’The weather has made the day, as you can see by the crowds which are still here.

‘We wanted a competitive match with loads of old boys involved – and look at the amount we managed to get.

‘Steve [Massey, manager of the Devon & Cornwall Select XI] has been unreal. He took on this game smack bang in the middle of a Bank Holiday weekend, with matches on Saturday and Monday, and he still managed to put a team out as good as that.

‘It couldn’t have gone any better. I’m sure there will still be many of us here long into the night.’

The Select XI ran out 2-1 winners in the end, having trailed 1-0 at the break before mounting a second half fightback.

‘It was a competitive game played in the right spirit and that’s what we were looking for,’ Castle added.

‘There might be a bit of massaging going on tomorrow and the day after, that’s for sure!’

Occupying the opposite dugout to Castle on the day was Steve Massey, who took charge of the Devon & Cornwall Select XI.

The former Buckland boss, now in charge at fellow Western League side Helston, called in players both current and former from across the South West to play their part.

‘The boys were brilliant,’ Massey explained afterwards. ‘There were 17 or 18 of us and there would’ve been more, but others understandably had family commitments. They were gutted they couldn’t be here.

‘You can see by the amount of people here and the number of players in both squads that it was a great game for Roy.

‘It was really competitive right until the end. We went 2-1 up late on which I was really pleased with – that might keep me in my job!

‘It was played in the right spirit and I think it was a nice result because the boys really enjoyed it.

‘To have all the lads back in the dressing room, most of whom I’ve managed over the past 30 years, was great.

‘Not forgetting about why we’re here, too. I thought Roy’s boy [son Billy Holmes] spoke really well, and it’s been a fitting tribute to a great man.’

Many of the players in Massey’s side racked up a fair few miles in order to play in the match and pay tribute to the much-loved former Bucks chairman.

‘What makes me feel really proud is that all of the players gave up their family time to come today,’ Massey explained. ‘Some of them travelled a very long way.

‘Darren Birchall hasn’t played for 12 years, went to buy a pair of boots today and travelled from Illogan.

‘I also had Robbie Francis, who could only play the first half – he actually delayed his holiday so he could play here.

‘Stuart Yetton said he would arrive for the second half and that was like the cavalry coming. He set one up and should’ve scored. He was out at a function this morning but he came anyway.

‘Ben Gerring – the standard that he plays at! He said that his tribute to Roy was to come and play in this game.

‘It was brilliant that all of the lads gave up the time to come and get their boots back on, play in the game and honour Roy. Even I got on for two or three minutes at the end!’