A NIGHT of live music will celebrate the life of a hugely respected grassroots football manager and musician.

Bands will perform at the Centenary Club in Wrexham on May 17 to raise money for the family of FC Queens Park manager Martin Ford, who was found dead aged 39 on Monday.

Organiser Colin Ridgeway, 52, told how Mr Ford had been a familiar face in the area's music scene as a bassist with several bands since the mid 90s.

He said: "A lot of people know Martin mainly for the football. For us in the music scene, he was a big part of the Wrexham music scene and our lives for years."

The pair first met Mr Ford in the mid 90s when Mr Ford was with indie rock outfit Veto, who went on to open the original Rock the Park festival, which Mr Ridgeway promoted.

Veto played numerous gigs, even winning a competition to play at the opening of the Welsh Assembly.

Mr Ford also played in The Scene and Future Empire - who Mr Ridgeway managed - as well as Forgetting Last Friday, and also filled in for other bands when needed before he retired from playing a few years ago.

Of his friend, Mr Ridgeway said: "He was single-minded, which is why he got so much done. If he set out to do something, Martin did it.

"He was quite a remarkable young man and I can't believe he's gone before even passing 40."

All proceeds from the gig will go towards Mr Ford's wife Kelly and three-year-daughter Summer.

Mr Ridgeway told how his friend had helped organise collections for the families of others in the past.

He added: "I'm doing this because it's what Martin would have been knocking on my door asking to do for someone else. I would feel like I'd failed him if I didn't because I know if it had been anyone else he would have been there, banging on my door saying 'Come on Col, let's put a gig on.'"

Acts scheduled to appear at the event include Weaver Sidekicks, Luke Gallagher, Declan Swans and Mr Ford's former bands Forgetting Last Friday and The Scene.

Mr Ford's bass guitar will be on stage throughout the show as a tribute.

The former pupil of Ysgol Hafod y Wern and St David's School helped form the club in 2013 alongside the late Darren "Coco" Roberts.

The club enjoyed a meteoric rise under his guidance, starting at the bottom of the Welsh football pyramid and achieving three promotions in four years.

Mr Ford, who grew up on Deva Way, Caia Park, also formed a youth team to give youngsters the chance of progressing to senior football and staying out of trouble.

Friends, family and youth team players gathered at the Dunks on Wednesday to release balloons in tribute to Mr Ford.

Admission to the Martin Ford Memorial Gig is £5 and doors will open at 7.30pm.