Football fans help with cost of funeral for Carlisle's Peter Brockbank

Football fans are raising money to help with the cost of a funeral for a Carlisle man who passed away recently.

Pete Brockbank, 78, was well known as a close friend and confidante of legendary player Stan Bowles.

And now supporters who celebrate Bowles have launched an initiative to help give his pal “the send-off he deserves” in the city.

Under the name The Maverick Team, they have already raised more than £1,000 and are hoping to raise more.

“Unfortunately, Peter Brockbank, close friend of football legend Stan Bowles, passed away on Saturday 29th July,” the GoFundMe page says.

“We are setting up a gofundme page, so that he can be given the send-off which he deserves.

“Please share this page, with any friends you might know, who would like to help.

Thank you very much for your support.

“Friends of 'Carlisle Peter'.”

Mr Brockbank’s funeral will be held at 3pm on Friday, August 25 at Carlisle Crematorium.

Carlisle and QPR legend Bowles often spoke of his friendship with Mr Brockbank, even devoting a section of his autobiography to him.

He wrote: “My best friend from Carlisle is a lad I call Carlisle Peter. We're still the best of mates to this day.

“Peter loved a bet too – and a drink and a laugh – and we usually managed to combine all three.

“Me and Pete were sitting round at my house, watching the Cheltenham festival on the telly. It's coming up to the last race and I've still got a tenner left.

“I pick a horse and Pete picks another. He goes off in the van to the bookies, to put our bets on. One thing that neither of us noticed, when we were checking the card, was that there were two horses with very similar names – say Irish Jig and Irish Wig or something like that.

“When he gets back from the bookies, he says, 'It was 8/1.' 'No, 14/1', says I. Pete looks at me gone out and we settle down to watch the race.

“It dawned on Pete, as we were watching them go to the start, that he'd put my tenner on the wrong Irish-Whatsit. He's mortified, but doesn't dare say a word.

“Naturally, the horse I think I've backed walks away with the race. I'm jumping round the room, roaring my head off with delight. Pete's just sitting there, looking miserable.

“I think this is because I've had it off, and he hasn't. Naturally, I want my money, one hundred and fifty notes. Pete knows that I haven't had a winner in months, so he doesn't have the heart to tell me the truth.

“Next day, he gives me the cash and tells me he's delighted for me. I didn't find out, until years later, that the poor lad had gone out that night and sold his stereo, just to raise the cash.

“I'd have done the same for him though - honest, I would’.”

Mr Brockbank was always active in celebrating the name of his famous football friend.

Stan Bowles, 74, is now suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease.

To visit and donate to the GoFundMe appeal, click HERE