AN AMATEUR sportsman whose death was mirrored by that of professional footballer Marc-Vivien Foe will be remembered later this month.

The image of the stricken Cameroon footballer was distressing to all who saw it but was especially poignant to the family of Richie Abbott, from Minster, near Sheerness.

Both men succumbed to Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS), which causes cardiac arrest, a fact his family only recently learned.

At the time of his death last March, Mr Abbott was a lively, out-going 34-year-old with a wife, twin sons and a daughter.

Last summer the devastated family honoured his memory by holding a football tournament in his name. It was so successful the tournament looks set to be an annual event and this year all proceeds raised will go towards the SADS Trust.

Mr Abbot's widow, Maria, said: “Richie loved his football, so this is a good way to remember him. It’s important to get the message about SADS across - that it could happen to anyone. People should be more aware.”

Mr Abbott, a Medway Ports Reserves (now Sheppey Athletic) also jointly ran the Sheerness Steel Under-13s - a team his boys played for. Aaron and James, now 14, will be playing in the memorial tournament for their father, which takes place on August 17 at the Co-Steel ground in Sheerness.

The tournament runs from 2pm to 8pm and the family, including daughter Paige, 12, and friends will also be running stalls and collecting for the trust.