FORMER team-mates of an inspirational woman battling Motor Neurone Disease were delighted as a special tournament organised to support her plight exceeded their expectations.

Kelly Green, Gemma Hutton and Clare Osler arranged the event on Bank Holiday Monday in Turves to show Sue Crooke, who has been left unable to walk or talk by the disease, how much the players from different Benwick Ladies sides care about her.

Miss Green, said: “We wanted to raise about �500 from the day if we possibly could but we were absolutely thrilled to raise �826.03.

“So many people turned up which shows just how popular Sue actually is. We thought we’d get a good turn-out as she’s an amazing woman but there were at least a couple of hundred people there which was fantastic.

“Sue really enjoyed seeing everyone again. We laughed and we cried but it was a very special day for a very special lady.”

The organisers of the event joined Benwick Ladies when they were around 15 years old and Mrs Crooke, described as “the mother of the team”, played in goal.

She was fit, healthy and still active before the heartbreaking disease struck and now lives at Longueville Court Care Home in Peterborough where she requires continuous care.

The money that was raised on the day will be donated to the Cambridgeshire Branch of the Motor Neurone Disease Association to support others in their battle against the disease.