HUNDREDS of people turned out to celebrate the memory of a 23-year-old footballer with a charity tournament.

Louise Bates, mum of former Chelsea youth player Jordan Tabor, said the event yesterday at Didcot Town Football Club was "amazing" and thanked people for coming along.

Jordan died on July 23, 2014, after falling from the balcony of his hotel room in Antalya, Turkey.

Mrs Bates, who lives in East Hendred, near Didcot, said the charity football tournament was "the perfect way" to keep her son's memory alive.

The 44-year-old added: "It has just been amazing to see so many of Jordan's friends and connections here today and the weather has been really good.

"The tournament is the perfect way to get everyone together playing football, which is exactly what he would have wanted.

"I just wish Jordan could have been here, because he would have loved it.

"It feels like there's someone missing from the football pitch."

This year's charity football tournament featured 16 teams and was the second Mrs Bates and her family have organised.

Jordan's dad Craig Jeffery also flew in from Los Angeles with his brothers Jake and Connor to take part in the tournament.

Alongside the football tournament there was also a bouncy castle, jousting, face painting, stalls and refreshments to raise money for charity.

Mrs Bates said cash raised would go to Helen and Douglas House children's hospice in Oxford. Last year's tournament raised £5,000 for charity.

She added: "We hope it will be an annual event – our trophy still has plenty of room on it.

"I want to thank everyone who came along and for making the event as great as it has been.

"Last year's tournament was the first so it was great to see everyone back again and there have also been loads of activities for the kids to do.

"We had hundreds of people here who all knew Jordon is some shape or form, it was lovely."

Jordan, who in 2014 was described as "extremely popular both on and off the pitch", played for Chelsea’s youth team between 2005 and 2009.

After leaving the club, he had a second spell at Didcot Town and later moved to Kidlington FC.

He was holidaying with girlfriend Danielle McEachran and her family at the beach resort of Antalya when he died in 2014.

A corner this year ruled his death was accidental.