A POPULAR north Pembrokeshire pre-season memorial football tournament has been cancelled due to the pandemic, and with the crisis continuing there is uncertainty over football at grassroots level taking place this year.

The Eddie Merry Memorial Trophy is held at Fishguard in August involving the hosts, Pembrokeshire League Division One kingpins, Senior Cup winners and Costcutter League champions.

The holders are Merlins Bridge who beat Monkton Swifts 5-3 on penalties after the 2019 final ended all square at 1-1.

This year’s spectacle, which would have been the 32nd, was to feature Fishguard Sports, League Champions Hakin United and St Dogmaels of the Costcutter, the event reduced to three clubs due to curtailment of the Pembs Cup competition.

Eddie Merry, who was a talented player with Sports for many years, died during an Irish Sea ferry crossing.

After the cancellation, Fishguard Sports fixture secretary Geraint Hughes said “The Eddie Merry is a hugely popular tournament providing keen competition between top clubs in the area.

“But we really had no choice and looking to the future we have to wonder if there will be any football played in 2020.”