Family, friends and fellow sports colleagues of brave cancer victim Dean Gregory turned out for a day of friendly sporting rivalry, fun and fundraising in his memory at Shepton Mallet Football Club on Sunday.

A few outbursts of rain failed to dampen the enthusiasm or the spirits of the crowds whose support raised more than £700 for cancer research and the Dorothy House Hospice in accordance with Dean's last wishes.

Popular Dean died after a long and brave battle against bowel cancer last year. His relatives and many friends held a series of fundraising events to build the Dean Gregory (Gregsy) Memorial Stadium at the Shepton Football Club ground at West Shepton.

Sunday saw a football match in his memory – with Shepton Football club (The England Legends), sporting special shirts with "Gregsy" on, battling it out against Castle Cary (the Brazilian Legends) with the home team beating the visitors 3-1.

But the score did not really matter – everyone was intent on having a great day in Dean's memory and friendly darts and skittles tournaments and a raffle and auction followed.

Shepton FC Chairman John Hugill said he hoped it was the beginning of many more get-togethers in years to come in Dean's memory.

He said: "We hope to keep this going every year for as long as we possibly can and we are grateful to the Castle Cary boys for their support today."

Dean's dad Pete had a silver Dean Gregory Memorial Trophy made to be presented in his memory each year.

Said Mr Hugill: "It was a great game played in a wonderful spirit for a great cause in memory of a great lad."

While the friends all celebrated and remembered a popular pal, pride of place on the wall of the Shepton Club went to a letter of support from Dean's favourite football club – Liverpool.

The letter from Liverpool FC's PR manager Brian Hall said how proud Liverpool were to count him as one of their supporters and also praised his commitment to Shepton.

Glastonbury Festival organiser Michael Eavis, who performed the official opening of the new stadium in Dean's memory earlier in the week, donated two much sought after Pilton party tickets to the charity auction.

Dean's proud mum Pam said: "Everyone's support has been amazing – we cannot thank them all enough. It was wonderful how many of his friends came along to celebrate his life and it all happened just the way he would have wanted to be remembered."