Family and friends to remember Danny Walsh with memorial event 10 years after his death

It will be an emotional day when family and friends come together to remember Grantham man Danny Walsh who died 10 years ago.

The Danny Walsh Memorial Day takes place at Harrowby United Football Club to remember the 30-year-old father of two and raise money for the Lincs&Notts Air Ambulance.

The day will feature live entertainment, a barbecue, kids’ games and bouncy castles, a raffle and tombola, and a licensed bar, as well as the traditional football match. Saturday’s event starts at 12pm.

Danny’s cousin Adam Grant organises the annual match. Long Necks will play Dickens Road Diamonds for the honours.

Adam said: “It’s good to remember Danny and raise money for the air ambulance. The event has been packed every year.”

Danny died from serious brain injuries following an altercation in Edinburgh Road, Grantham, on July 28, 2013.

His mother Debbie has organised the memorial event almost every year since with the help of family and friends.

But she says the annual event is “a real struggle”. “It gets harder every year, but I have a lot of support. I get het up every time. It’s just very emotional. It’s very stressful.”

After the 10th anniversary event this weekend, Debbie says she may look to do something on a smaller scale to raise money in memory of Danny.

Over the past 10 years the event has raised about £30,000 for charity.

Debbie said: “I am very grateful for all the support I have had from family and friends and to those who have supported the raffle with prizes. There are quite a few people who have supported it every year for ten years.

“Everybody has a good time and it gets very emotional by the end.”

Danny has two daughters, Layla-May, now 12, and Connie who is 13.

Debbie said Layla-May especially is like her father. “She thinks she is Danny Walsh! She meets up with his mates. They talk about him all the time and she is up at the memorial event every year.”

Brothers Ben Croft and Sam Croft were accused of Danny’s murder and appeared on trial at crown court. The court heard from the prosecution how Daniel was concerned that the noise from a nearby party would be keeping awake families in the neighbouring houses, and asked for the music to be turned down.

In an altercation that followed, Danny suffered serious brain injuries and, despite efforts to save his life, he died within hours.

The Croft brothers, formerly of Barrowby, were cleared by a jury at Lincoln Crown Court in March 2014.