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 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 was a keen sportsman, playing for both Thimbleby and Leake cricket clubs, and was a talented motorcyclist and fisherman.

Academically, he received the most outstanding student awards for two successive years at Longlands College, 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 are struggling to meet the costs of insurance, accounting and rates.

At the moment, it costs £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.

"It is such a shame that the pavilion isn't being used more because it is in a beautiful setting and the facilities are excellent here.

"It seems a waste after all the hard work put in to raise the money."

The pavilion has disabled access and toilets, and is available for hire for parties and functions.

Anyone interested in using the pavilion can contact Stuart Jerram on (01609) 760288 or Nigel Smith on (01609) 771968.