By Isle of Wight Observer
The Paul Westby memorial tournament returns tomorrow at the County Showground in Northwood, where a record 127 youth teams will take part in one of the Island’s best‑supported grassroots football events.
The tournament, played every year since 1992 apart from a break during the pandemic, was created in memory of Paul Westby, the youngest of Heather and Mick Westby’s three sons. Paul, who played for Gurnard under‑9s and his school team, died in 1990 aged just eight, after an accident during pre‑season training. What began as a single friendly match in 1991 has grown into a major annual fixture, which involves clubs, families, and volunteers across the Island.
This year’s move to the County Showground reflects the scale of the event, with 12 pitches marked out to accommodate the matches. Boys and girls from across the Island will compete throughout the day, supported by referees, managers, and the long‑standing organisers at Gurnard Junior Football Club.
In a message included in the programme, Heather and Mick Westby say the tournament has been “a great comfort” to their family, knowing so many children continue to enjoy playing in Paul’s memory. They thanked everyone involved for helping make the event a success once again and wished all the young players “a really good day”.
The tournament begins tomorrow morning at the County Showground.