IT could be seen as a simple coincidence - but the poor weather brought back memories of a dark day in the history of Lydney Town Football Club.

Thirty-four years ago, Andrew Thompson, was struck by lightning while playing for Brackley Town Saints at Lydney’s Recreation Ground.

Town and Saints had moved the fixture forward from its original April date, when the game will now be played after being called off, in memory of Andrew, who was 24 when he passed away in hospital.

It would have been the first meeting of the two clubs in Lydney since Andrew’s death in 1981.

Lydney Town secretary Roger Sansom remembered the tragic day, calling it ‘surreal’ as all 22 players hit the floor when the lightning struck.

“There was the thunderstorm rumbling on while the match was being played,” he explained.

“As it started people were running under the trees for shelter funnily enough and the next thing we knew there was an almighty flash and everyone just crashed to the ground.

“After it all cleared people started to get to their feet in a daze wondering what had happened. Some of the players on the day said it was like being hit on the head with a hammer.

“A couple of the players didn’t get up – one of those being Andy Thompson.”

Club chairman at the time, John Mills, ran onto the pitch and delivered first aid, keeping Andy alive until the paramedics arrived at the scene.

Unfortunately, his heroics were not enough as Andrew passed away in Gloucestershire Royal Hospital a week later.

Pathologist Dr Rosemary Ashby said at the time that there were no signs of burns on Andrew’s body and a post-mortem revealed he died of irreversible brain damage following cardiac arrest.

“It was a shame we couldn’t get the game on to commemorate Andrew’s life,” Sansom added.

“It would have been the first meeting of the clubs in Lydney since.

“When we get it finally played in April we will still do something.”