TWO fundraising appeals set up to help bring home a talented young footballer who died while on holiday have passed their halfway points – with more than £35,000 collected so far.

Daniel Sirrell was on a trip to Amsterdam with friends when he fell into a canal. The 21-year-old was taken to hospital after the incident early on Sunday, May 20, but was later pronounced dead.

Following the tragedy, an appeal was set up by his friend Connor Elders to help his family pay for the medical costs incurred when he was treated in the Netherlands and to bring him home. A fundraising page launched to raise £50,000 has now realised more than £27,000.

Another appeal set up by Ben Cooper to raise £15,000, has more than £8,000.

Mr Sirrell, of Peterlee, had played for Wearside League team Harton and Westoe FC for the last two seasons.

A charity football match, planned to boost the appeal total will be held at at Dyke House Sports and Technology College in Hartlepool, at 1pm on Saturday. There will be an entry free of £2 and a raffle.

Another game is planned at East Durham College, in Peterlee, on Saturday, June 9, with former Sunderland AFC player Darren Holloway, who is now a coach at the college, set to play at the event alongside other ex-pros.

Mr Sirrell was a student at the college for four years, first studying on the BTEC sport programme, then successfully graduating from the Foundation Degree in Sports Coaching last year.

Paying tribute, a college spokesman said: “He was a highly popular student who was well liked by all, due to his pleasant and friendly disposition. Nobody ever had a bad word to say about Daniel. His early passing is a great tragedy.”

To donate to appeal set up by Connor Elder click here and to donate to the appeal set up by Ben Cooper click here