OXFORD’S ice hockey fans have held a memorial match for an ice rink stalwart who died last month.

Oxford City Stars took on a guest team of friends and colleagues of Norman Elliott, from Headington, who worked at Oxford Ice Rink for 20 years.

He died from an undiagnosed heart condition on Friday, June 17.

At his funeral last month he was given a guard of honour with hockey sticks and fishing rods to mark his twin loves, and the cortege paused outside Oxford Ice Rink for people to pay respects.

As well as working at the rink, Mr Elliott was a familiar sight during matches, standing above the player benches banging a drum and commenting on the opposing team over a megaphone.

On Saturday, 200 friends and family members gathered at his beloved ice rink to hold a memorial match between “Team Elliott” and “Team Norm”, including Oxford City Stars players past and present.

Son and Stars captain Darren Elliott, 31, said: “I have played for 20 years, and the whole time he has worked there and watched and followed hockey.

“The ice rink, hockey and fishing were his life.

“Everyone that passed through the ice rink knew my dad, and he was a real people person.

“If he was bored at home, he would go into work just to find something to do, because he loved it so much.

“He was a great dad, and a real character with a great sense of humour.

“He had a real sense of fun and was always taking the mick.”

Others taking part in the memorial match on Saturday included younger son Philip, 26, while wife Lorraine and daughter Tracy, 28, were supporting from the stands.

The two brothers skated onto the ice together to applause and cheering from the crowd as a 10ft banner in tribute to their father was unveiled at the rink.

Oxford City Stars team manager Gary Dent said: “He was a bit of a character: a belligerent so-and-so at times, who loved winding people up.

“He was very well known down at the rink, both helping out and up in the crowd winding up the opposition and the referee on his megaphone.

“He helped spread the message around the community and was one of the higher profile guys at the rink.

“You could see that reflected in the number of people who turned up to his funeral last month, and the support at the match on Saturday.”

The event raised £2,040 for British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research UK and was won by Team Elliott 14-9.