Grimsby Telegraph news editor David Laister managed to combine a childhood dream with a worthy fundraising drive.

He helped organise – and then took part in – a penalty shoot out to help the Luke Walmsley Sports Foundation smash through the £100,000 mark.

The fund, in memory of the 14-year-old Cleethorpes schoolboy who was murdered outside his classroom in November 2003, will go towards the building of a £500,000 sports hall in North Somercotes, the village where Luke was killed.

While Luke’s parents Jayne and Paul have been instrumental campaigners nationally to get the dangers of knives recognised, a huge drive has been ongoing at a local level to raise cash for facilities to keep kids entertained in the village.

The idea came about in a pub – where they all do – after Dave’s friend Matthew Bloomer, a Lincoln City footballer, had returned from a presentation at the school.

Both had been involved in raising awareness of the fund, but neither had actually done anything directly for it.

Dave scuffs the turf

The penalty shoot out idea was born, and with help from Grimsby Town, Lincoln City and the Lincolnshire Echo, and with full support of Telegraph editor Michelle Lalor, it went ahead when the two teams played each other on January 22.

More than £1,500 was raised after six fans (three from each team) placed bids to take part. They then collected sponsorship money, based on how many they would score against professional keepers from both sides.

The penalty competition was won by James Fishwick, a schoolfriend of Luke Walmsley, who converted all three of his chances.

A season ticket for Lincoln City will now be shared by the team Luke used to play for North Somercotes Junior Football Club.

For the record, Dave scored two.