Hundreds of young soccer enthusiasts will turn out on August 30 to take part in a six-a-side tournament played every year in memory of a promising young sportsman who died of a rare heart condition.
Friendly rivalry will be to the fore when 560 boys and girls kick off in the 13th Dominic O’Loughlin Soccer Festival at Brighouse High School.
Dominic’s parents, Fiona O’Loughlin and the late Barry O’Loughlin, of Eland, had no idea their 11-year-old son was suffering from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. After he died in 1994, the couple helped raise money for the charity CRY – Cardiac Risk in the Young – and awareness of the condition.
Dominic, a former pupil at Lightcliffe Preparatory School, was a keen cricket and football fan and represented Huddersfield at under-10 level.
This year’s event is even more poignant with the death of Dominic’s father Barry O’Loughlin in September last year – just a few days after the soccer festival. His wife, Fiona, and daughter Francesca will be at the event to accept a cheque for CRY and help with various activities throughout the day.
Club secretary Margaret said everyone was invited: “You don’t have to be playing to come along and watch or support the children taking part. It is about having fun and enjoying the sport which is what both Barry and Dominic loved.”
The tournament raises money for Clifton Rangers and CRY. It is aimed at the under-7s to under-14s. It runs from 9am to 6pm.
