THE family of a young sportsman who died ten years ago are appealing for people to make use of a sports pavilion built in his memory.

Jamie Hill collapsed near his home in Osmotherley, North Yorkshire, in 1995, just days after his 23rd birthday. Doctors at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton discovered he had suffered a brain aneurism and he died a few days later.

He had been a keen sportsman and played for both Thimbleby and Leake cricket clubs, as well as being a talented motorcyclist and fisherman.

Academically, he received the most outstanding student awards for two successive years at Longlands College, in Middlesbrough.

Following his death, family members, led by his mother Una, raised £30,000 to build a new pavilion at Thimbleby village sports ground, to replace the site's crumbling hut.

It opened in 2002, and was used by Thimbleby Cricket Club and Osmotherley Rangers football team.

But the football team folded last year, effectively halving the pavilion's income, and the committee looking after the building is struggling to meet the costs of insurance, accounting and rates.

At the moment, it is costing £1,000 a year to keep the building open, and committee members are having to organise fundraising events in order to pay the bills.

Rachel Smith, Jamie's sister, says the ideal solution would be for someone to reform the football team, or set up a new club in the area. It could be a children's team or an adult team," she said. "It doesn't matter, just as long the facilities are being used."

Anyone interested in using the pavilion can contact Stuart Jerram on (01609) 760288.