The parents of a Bantams fan who died after contracting meningitis marked the first anniversary of his death by sponsoring Bradford City's match on Saturday.

Football club bosses treated Susan and Keith Dimmock of Sr Margaret's Avenue, Holme Wood, Bradford, to a champagne reception and a four-course meal before Bradford City's home game against Notts County on Saturday which they won 3-0.

The couple were at the match to remember their son, avid Bantams fan and father-of-one Shaun Dimmock.

Shaun was 27 when his parents had to take the heartbreaking decision to turn off his life support machine on January 5, 2007.

He had been taken to Airedale General Hospital when an ear infection developed into pneumococcal meningitis. His death devastated his family, including wife of ten months, Clare, and their son Luke, who was 14 months old at the time.

They were unable to make it to Saturday's match.

But Mr and Mrs Dimmock, Shaun's brother Neil, 31 and his wife Michele, his aunt and uncle John and Bernice Wimbles and their daughters Sarah, 20 and Claire, 23, attended.

They were joined by Craig Shire of Tyersal, Bradford, and Michael Eppelston of Idle, Bradford, who were Shaun's best friends and pall bearers at his funeral.

Keith Dimmock, 55, said: "Everybody here had been there from day one of his illness until we switched the life support machine off, so the day was very important for everyone involved.

"The match was the best they have played all season. Shaun would have been overjoyed by it. But he always was the sort of person who was full of joy and life and this was a great celebration for him."

The match ball was sponsored by "The Dimmock Family and Friends" and Mr Dimmock was asked to pick the man of the match.

A collection for the Meningitis Trust was held in the McCall Suite before kick-off.

Mr Dimmock, a hydraulic engineer, said: "I thought it was very kind that they asked me to pick man of the match and it was very close between Peter Thorne and Matt Clarke.

"Matt Clarke had a great match in defence but you have got to give it to the man that scores the goals.

"They presented us with the signed match ball after the game. We are keeping it safe for when his son is old enough to have it."

Shaun Dimmock never missed a City match, even when money was tight, and he had every home and away shirt since 1987.

He celebrated Christmas day with his son, wearing matching Bantams shirts and had looked forward to sharing his love for the club with Luke.

Shaun's funeral at St John's Church, Bierley, was a sea of claret and amber and mourners included a number of Bradford City players.

The money from Saturday's collection will go towards the Meningitis Trust, whose members counselled the family after Shaun's death.

Mr Dimmock said: "Bradford City have been absolutely marvellous to us. On the anniversary of Shaun's death, they let us go and lay some flowers on the pitch. From start to finish they have been top class and we can't thank them enough."

e-mail: marc.meneaud@bradford.newsquest.co.uk