BEDALE AFC has erected memorial plaques for two former sporting stalwarts of the town.

Mark Ward was a student at Bedale High School who passed his FA referee examination back in 1993 and refereeing became his passion. He officiated in the Black Sheep Hambleton Combination, the Heck Harrogate and District Football League and the Wensleydale Creamery Football League as well as being a linesman in the Teesside League.

Mark suffered from ill-health and following a long kidney illness, he died on December 30, 2015 aged 36.

Danny Davies arrived at Bedale High School in 1991, when his family was posted to RAF Leeming. Throughout his time at the school, he developed into a fine footballer, representing the Hambleton and Richmondshire area. He was also a county javelin thrower.

Once he left school, he played for Bedale AFC until the family moved to Scotland. Married only eight months, Danny was killed in a road traffic accident as he made his way home from work, aged 28.

The grandstand at the Heck Stadium is already named the Will Abbottson Stand in memory of a local lad who attended Bedale High School and played for Bedale Juniors FC, Bedale Reserves, Bedale AFC, Bedale Academy, Masham FC and Henley’s FC. Will was involved in a fatal road traffic accident on December 5, 2011, aged 23.

Chairman Martyn Coombs said: “We already have three cups in memory of Mark, Will and Danny which are played for annually as pre-season friendlies but with the Covid problem, these did not take place this year, so we felt we would like to honour their memory in a more tangible way by positioning the plaques on the home and away dugouts.”