LOVES ones of a Greenock dad stabbed to death in his home are helping to save lives with a charity football match to highlight the devastating impact of knife crime.

Much loved father Christopher Nicol, 27, died after he was attacked at his home in Maple Road on 26 September.

In a poignant tribute to Christopher, his cousins Jaime Craig and Louise MacLean have now teamed up to organised a special match at Lady Octavia.

Jaime, 22, who lives in Gourock, said: "It's the most horrible thing in the world to happen to anybody never mind someone in your family.

"We just want to prevent it happening to anyone else, to make sure that it doesn't happen again."

Jaime hopes people in the community will rally round to support the match as some of the money raised will support Christopher's two young children, who are facing their first Christmas without their dad.

She said: "Me and my cousin Louise have helped to organise the charity match and we've already got over 600 people who like the page on Facebook.

"We chose to do it because football is the one thing that most people are more likely to participate in.

"At the moment, there's about 50 people who want to play and people who also want to come along and watch - everyone is welcome to come along.

"There is also a Just Giving page up online for donations and we'll be collecting money on the day.

"The money raised will go to Youth Connections in Inverclyde.

"The work they do is so important - they speak to young people who have either been victims of knife crime or who are more at risk of carrying knives, so some of the money will go towards that.

"Some of the money will go to his kids as they used to spend the holidays with their dad and Christmas will be their first holiday without their dad.

"So we're collecting donations for them and if people don't want to put money in they can even buy a toy to give to the kids."

Jaime, whose mum Karen is the sister of Christopher's father Franky Caraher, said he was a popular young man loved by everyone.

She said: "Nobody ever said a bad word about Christopher.

"He was a gent.

"I was really close to Christopher's sister Demilynn growing up.

"When Christopher moved back here to stay with his dad for a while, I would stay at their house.

"There's quite a lot of cousins and we were all close growing up."

Jaime says the whole family has been left devastated by Christopher's death.

She added that the outpouring of love they have received from people in Inverclyde has been a great source of comfort to them.

Jaime told the Tele: "The community have been amazing - people have all wanted to help in some way.

"We want to show our appreciation for everyone’s help and to raise awareness on what carrying knives does to those affected."

The charity match is on Saturday November 30 at Lady Octavia in Bridgend Road at 2pm.

For more information visit the Facebook page 'Charity football match for Christopher Nicol'.

Anyone who would like to donate online can do so at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/chris-nicol?