A FOOTBALL tournament in memory of a gutsy cancer victim and keen soccer player from Beith is scheduled for next Monday.

The Corey Cup is named after Corey Hamilton who sadly passed away in July 2013 aged nine from a rare form of childhood cancer called rabhdoid sarcoma that affects the kidneys.

The event is an inter-Garnock Valley primary school football tournament with the theme of uniting communities.

The communities of Beith, Kilbirnie and Dalry united last year to raise funds to send Corey to Germany for pioneering treatment for his condition.

Events such as the Corey Cup, the Corey Ceilidh, Corey Carwash and the Corey Cantor managed to raise £30,000 in just 10 weeks but tragically it was too late for Corey.

The tournament will take place every year as close as possible to March 24 – Corey's birthday – as a living tribute to a boy who helped unite the communities of the Garnock Valley.

The event is taking place at Beith Astro with teams from Moorpark Primary, Glengarnock Primary, St Bridget's Primary, Dalry Primary, St Palladius Primary, Gateside Primary and 2 teams from Beith Primary.

The winning team will be presented with the engraved solid silver Corey Cup and the top three teams will be presented with medals.

The tournament kicks off at 12.30pm and the final is scheduled to take place on Beith Juniors' grass pitch, Bellsdale at approximately 2.15pm.

Everyone is welcome to come along to watch the kids take part in a fun afternoon of football and there will be appearances by players from Beith Juniors, Kilbirnie Ladeside and Dalry Rovers.

Refreshments will be available throughout the day.