A BELOVED hairdresser who died in December will be paid tribute to this weekend.

Stephen Marshall died aged 65 last year, and he bequeathed money to Greystone Recreation Ground on the occasion of his death.

According to his family, despite being a successful hairdresser, Stephen's first love and passion was football.

Warrington Guardian: Stephen is survived by his wife, Cheryl, and his daughters Zoe and FionaStephen is survived by his wife, Cheryl, and his daughters Zoe and Fiona (Image: Supplied)

An avid supporter of Tottenham Hotspur, Stephen even helped found a supporters' group in Illinois, where he moved to in the 1970s.

He never forgot his roots, however, and always visited his old stomping ground in Penketh when he came back to Warrington.

Stephen remarked to his family that it was sad to see that football provisions were no longer in place at Greystone Recreation Ground - and even in death Stephen is making waves in the footballing community.

Having left money behind for the sole purpose of erecting football posts on Greystone Rec, Stephen's family have announced that an annual football match will be held in Penketh in his name.

It was the hairdresser's wish that the installation of a new set of football posts would reintroduce grassroots football to the area.

Now, Stephen's family have worked with Penketh Parish Council to ensure that his wish is fulfilled.

The football posts are set to be installed on today, Friday, and a junior football match will kick off at 11.30am on Saturday, July 22.

This will be the first instalment of the annual Stephen Marshall Memorial Cup.

Having grown up on Maple Crescent in Penketh, Stephen then moved to Illinois in the United States, where he opened his own salon - British Hairways.

Warrington Guardian: Stephen was known as a dedicated Spurs fanStephen was known as a dedicated Spurs fan (Image: Sean Ryan)

Stephen's aunt, Eileen Meredith, spoke to the Warrington Guardian about her nephew, saying: "Alongside his successful business, Steve was a well-known philanthropist, entertainer and avid collector of memorabilia - for which he established an annual Beatles festival in Chicago.

"Steve was a lifelong Tottenham Hotspur supporter and  was the founding member of the Crystal Lake Supporters' Club and embraced the team motto: ‘To Dare is to Do.'   

"Steve will be remembered as an all-round good human being who loved his family, friends, people, music, laughter and, of course, life itself."

There will also be a dedication service held in Stephen's memory on Saturday, July 22, at 1pm, where his family will scatter his ashes at the site in line with his final wishes.

Eileen added: "Anyone who knew Steve and the local community is welcome to join us as we bring this local lad back to where he said he had so many happy memories and such good times with his football-mad friends."