The founder of a foundation in memory of Kevin Beattie visit made a special visit to the Carlisle football legend's home city.

Malcolm Thompson launched the Kevin Beattie Foundation a year ago and has since seen it raise more than £10,000 for charity.

And last weekend saw Malcolm call in at Carlisle United's Brunton Park ground on what would have been the Botcherby star's 68th birthday.

United's supporter liaison officer Simon Clarkson caught up with Malcolm to welcome him to the stadium.

Photos were taken at Brunton Park with a United shirt beating Ipswich Town star Beattie's number six and the words ‘Kevin Beattie Foundation’.

It had been intended that the visit would coincide with the Blues' home game against Bradford City but the fixture was postponed because of Covid cases in the visiting team.

Malcolm, who last year completed a 320-mile walk from Carlisle to Ipswich to help set up the foundation, said: " It was a shame the game against Bradford City was postponed but it was still great to meet up with Simon again as he walked the first ten miles back in 2020 which was a great gesture, and he wrote a great piece in the match day programme.

"I will be back annually now to remember Kevin and one day, even at the age of 59, I hope to lead the Carlisle team out in the Kevin Beattie Foundation shirt as that would be an awesome way to remember Kevin, as he was a big fan and always looked out for their results."

News and Star: A Carlisle United shirt bearing Beattie's number 6 and the name of a foundation set up in his memoryA Carlisle United shirt bearing Beattie's number 6 and the name of a foundation set up in his memory

The day Malcolm visited Carlisle, a statue of the football legend was being unveiled outside Ipswich's Portman Road ground after a fans' fundraising campaign.

Malcolm watched Beattie as a supporter of Ipswich and later got to know the Cumbrian star as a friend.

"Kevin, or The Beat as most knew him, was voted the greatest player ever to have played for Ipswich Town, and to be fair there is no competition from anyone because Kevin was that great," he added.

"As a fan on the terraces I always knew he was a fantastic player. He was strong, powerful and a great header of the ball. As Sir Bobby Robson once said, Kevin was the best player England never had, meaning he would have been a regular for England was it not for his injuries.

"As a fan I was very lucky to have got to know Kevin later on as a friend and most Friday nights I was on the phone with him talking about the game the next day. He never called Sir Bobby Robson anything other than 'Boss'...

"Kevin for me wasn’t an England International or the legend that he has become. To me Kevin was just Kevin and that speaks volumes of him because that is how he was with people and that’s why this relationship with the fans was something special.

News and Star: Malcolm Thompson, left, at the new statue of Kevin Beattie at IpswichMalcolm Thompson, left, at the new statue of Kevin Beattie at Ipswich

"Once when I held a charity night, he said, 'I really hope one day my name will help others in the future'. I thought, 'Wow, where did that come from?'.

"I looked at Kevin and said, 'Mate, your name will always be in the history books as Town’s greatest player and I’m sure your name will help others', but deep down I wasn’t sure how. He shrugged his shoulders and said, 'Yeah, of course it will...'

"That conversation always stayed with me. I had a light bulb moment and decided to set up a Foundation so Kevin’s name will always help others in years to come."

The foundation was formed on December 31 last year, and Malcolm says more than £10,000 ha already been raised for East Anglian Children's Hospice, Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, Brain Tumour Charity and for three brothers who have Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

News and Star: A racehorse owned by the Kevin Beattie Foundation, named Beattie Is BackA racehorse owned by the Kevin Beattie Foundation, named Beattie Is Back

The Foundation also has a Racehorse trained by Richard Fahey, called BEATTIE IS BACK.

For more information visit www.kevinbeattiefoundation.co.uk, Twitter @kevinbeattiefo1 or email malcolm@kevinbeattiefoundation.co.uk