Chris Phillips is organising football matches to raise awareness of the issue and to help the charity Refuge, which helps victims of domestic abuse.

He said: "The idea is to get ladies' teams playing matches and posing for local newspapers with Refuge balloons around them to raise the charity's profile."

The pilot match between Crystal Palace Ladies and Gillingham Ladies took place on Sunday in Orpington, Kent.

The game was in memory of Mr Phillips' daughter, 21-year-old Johanna Croxton, of Plynlimmon Road, who suffered violence at the hands of her husband, Jonathan.

He was jailed for life in 2006 after strangling her at their Hastings home.

Mr Phillips, who lives in Croydon, south London, said he and Johanna shared a love of football, as she was a Crystal Palace fan as a child.

He has already held several charity events in aid of Refuge.

Mr Phillips said: "I am hoping to get other ladies' football teams around the country to participate."

Gillingham stepped in at the last minute after another team withdrew from the game with Crystal Palace.

Mr Phillips said: "When I heard we had got Gillingham, I couldn't believe my luck.

"Johanna lived in Whitstable until she was 14 and I worked there for a while.

"I also worked in security for Gillingham Football Club for two seasons and Johanna came with me to watch some matches."