THE seventh Son-Rise Cup Football Festival in Tavistock at the weekend saw more than 6,000 people attend to make it the most successful so far!

Children and youth teams filled the Crowndale pitches to bursting point and at one point 23 referees' whistles were blasting on the three venues.

The Ability Counts teams had a fantastic time on Langsford Park and organisers gave a big thank you to Tavistock AFC for helping make the disability footballers so happy.

Newton Soccability FC won the Clifton Towl Cup and as usual the Karen Bell Son-Rise Cup was  shared between Newton and Tavi Specials.

Due to demand there were new fixtures this year for under 12s and 16s ability counts teams with Plymouth Argyle winning this event.

The 26 men's teams fought hard to win the Devon FA Son Rise Cup hosted by Tavistock Community Sports Centre. It all went down to the wire with a penalty shoot-out in an 'electric atmosphere' between Tavistock AFC and Blue Moon in the final. Craig Mulholland kept his net safe for the latter and deserved the man of the match award. It means the 2012 champions are local side Blue Moon; Manchester City would have been proud!

A new Respect Award was given this year in memory of Stephen Acton which was presented by his father Brian to James Follett.

AFC Plympton Ladies won their tournament on penalties with Bassetts of Tavistock runners up.

Allen Lewis, organiser, said a big, big thank you to The Tidy Tavy Club who hoovered up the litter all weekend and so a big thank you to them. He also was grateful to all the individuals, businesses and organisations that support this growing event and the many people who helped and volunteered to make it possible.

He told the Times: 'This was a wonderful response from the community to support such a great event that brings such a lot of pleasure to so many people of all ages.

'Tavistock now has an event like no other and so the future of this festival looks secure and Autism Awareness has surely been a winner!'