The age-group tournaments on the Netherdale back pitches attracted over 1,000 youngsters.

And on the main 3G pitch the best teenagers in the region battled it out during the Cameron Gunn Finals Day.

Dougie Anderson, from organisers Borders Sport and Leisure, was delighted with the numbers and quality of football. The East Fife coach told us: “The standard of football throughout the afternoon was high.

“I was particularly impressed with the offensive play of the teams in the finals.

“When you take the standard of football along with the number of children playing at the BSLT Festival of Football, it is very encouraging.” Hawick triumphed in both the Under 13s and Under 14s finals.

The Teries scored five past Melrose without reply in the 13s and it was the same scoreline against Gala Fairydean in the 14s.

Gala’s Under 15s beat Kelso 4-3 to lift the Cameron Gunn Cup.

And it was an impressive Duns side who defeated Kelso 4-2 to lift the Chris Doyle Memorial Cup.

Over the fence, on the back pitches, around 120 teams were playing in their own finals at the Borders Sport and Leisure Festival of Football.

Organiser Drew Kelly admits it was hard work accommodating the growing number of young players. He said: “Every year we say we can’t get any bigger yet every year we do.

“I was having to rework the fixtures on the night before the tournament as teams were still phoning up to try and get in.

“We had teams from the length and breadth of the Borders - from West Linton all the way down to Eyemouth.

“The quality of play is good. I think we are starting to see the benefits of clubs being signed up to the SFA Quality Mark - the young players are certainly more skilfull.” Cameron Gunn collapsed and died on the eve of his 20th birthday in 1991 while playing five-a-side football. He was found to have suffered from a heart condition.

A memorial match took place between his mates and raised funds for charity.

The match continued each year and steadily grew into the tournament we know today.

His mother, Wilma, began the Scottish HART charity in 1997. And her mission has been simple - to prevent others dying, like her son, while playing sport.

Her fundraising and campaigning has led to over 9,000 youngsters being heart screened at the home of Scottish football, Hampden.

And almost every community and sports complex in the Borders now has its own life-saving defibrillator.

On Sunday a further £1000 was raised for the charity.

Wilma told the Border Telegraph: “It is very uplifting, as the mother of Cameron, to see the tournament continue to grow.

“We are told that it is now the largest football festival in the whole of Scotland - that’s something we are very proud of.

“I would like to thank Drew and Dougie and everyone else at the Borders Sport and Leisure Trust for all of their hard work in organising yet another superb day.”