An "ardent" Canaries supporter who died aged 42 will be remembered at a special event this weekend.

Friends and family of Wes Barton, who died 18 months after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND), will gather as a memorial football match is played in his honour.

The father of two was a Carrow Road season ticket holder for 25 years. He received the shock MND diagnosis in 2020, an incurable condition which affects the brain and nerves.

He had worked in life insurance and pensions at Aviva before training to become a PE teacher, later taking a role at Stoke High School in Ipswich.

Wes passed away from motor neurone disease 18 months agoWes Barton died 18 months ago after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease (Image: Lee Jones)

The first Wes Barton Memorial Match will take place at The Nest in Hellesdon on Sunday including an 11-a-side football match, activities for children and families, and a raffle.

A tribute from its organiser reads: "It feels like the right time to bring everyone together for an afternoon of fun, football, family and friends and it's only right that football is at the heart of it.

Wes is survived by his wife, Rhian, and his two daughters, Ellie and EdieWes is survived by his wife, Rhian, and his two daughters, Ellie and Edie (Image: Lee Jones)

"Wes was an ardent Norwich City fan and also passionate about sport and getting young people active, so the match would have meant so much to him."

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Wes' wife, Rhian, will be at the match along with his two daughters, Ellie and Edie.

Lee Jones, one of the event's organisers, added: "Sunday's game at The Nest is all about remembering Wes, bringing together his family, friends and many of the players who he shared a changing room with through junior and senior football."

All proceeds from the day will go to Nelson's Journey, a city-based bereavement charity, and the Norwich City Community Sports Foundation.

The event is being held between 2pm and 5pm, with the match kicking off at 2.30pm and attendees asked to wear yellow or green.

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It runs alongside a JustGiving crowdfunding campaign which has already raised £955 of a £1,000 target, with dozens of contributors voicing their love and sympathy for Wes and his family. 

The Nest, where the match will take place on SundayThe Nest, where the match will take place on Sunday (Image: The Nest CSF)

Motor neurone disease

Up to 5,000 people in the UK have MND at any given time, with those over 50 most at risk of being affected.

Its symptoms include muscular dystrophy, twitches and slurred speech, and while the condition almost always leads to death it can be lived with for many years.

Former rugby league star Rob Burrow died aged 41 earlier this month following a five-year battle with the disease.

Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield during the 2023 Rob Burrow Leeds MarathonRob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield during the 2023 Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon (Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

Several high-profile fundraising efforts alongside former team-mate Kevin Sinfield, with £6.1m of a £6.8m total raised for the Rob Burrow Centre for MND in Leeds.

Towering former Scotland international Doddie Weir was diagnosed with MND in 2017 and told he would not be able to walk within a year. 

Before he died in November 2022, he had raised more than £8m for MND research through his foundation, My Name's Doddie.