A popular family sports day which faced the axe in its 99th year has been saved by a City stocker’s assistant made redundant in the recession.

Daniel Joyce, 21, had been to Downside Village sports day every year since he was a baby and was distraught to learn it had been cancelled through lack of support.

After losing his job in April, he vowed to take up the challenge of organising it and getting sponsorship ahead of the August bank holiday Monday event on Downside Common.

Former St Matthew’s Infant School pupil Mr Joyce said: “For everyone in the village it’s an iconic thing and everyone knows that when you get a new diary for next year you write it in.

“It’s one of those things that you can’t let go. Next year it will be 100 years and you’ve got to run a 99th if you’re going to run a 100th.”

Much loved activities including the tug of war, welly throwing and tossing the bail of hay will happen again this year, although the free children’s rides have been sacrificed because of time constraints on raising sponsorship.

The event attracts about 2,500 people every year and former Downside residents often make a pilgrimage back for the community event.

Previous organisers pulled the plug on the event when only four people turned up to the AGM after last year’s event.

Ken Purssey, who was involved for more than 30 years, said: “I knew that if we stepped back, people would come out of the woodwork.”

Mr Joyce, who began a new job for a foreign exchange in Cobham last week, is still appealing for sponsorship and help organising the event.

To help call 07747 193684 or email downsidesports@hotmail.co.uk.

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