This is Tamworth --THE Tamworth Junior Football League is on a mission to create a memorial fund to remember two teenage players who tragically died last year.
Cousins and dedicated footballers Damian Stewart and Dion Walker-Smith were killed in a car crash, along with Damian's mother Margaret Stewart in December 2013 – an incident which sparked an outpouring of grief from the community.
More than one month on, as they come to terms with the devastating loss, TJFC secretary Dik Boocock said the boys' former teammates are now turning their attention to creating a lasting legacy in memory of the pair.
"It will of course get easier with time but it is still a very difficult time," Dik told the Herald.
"I knew it wouldn't hit the younger members of the community until the day of the funeral, which was very tough because eight of the players carried the boys' coffins. That was when it really hit them all."
The boys' former Coton Green Under 16s teammates initially paid tribute to them by displaying an 'RIP Damo Dion' banner at the Tamworth FC match on December 8, which was shown on national television. And all matches in the league held on January 5 began with a minute silence to remember all three family members.
Looking ahead to the future, members of the TJFL will play a memorial match with the Coventry Minor Football League on Friday, March 7 at The Oval Ground in Bedworth to remember Damian, Dion and a young Coventry football who also died last year.
The league is also looking into raising enough funds to purchase a defibrillator to be permanently placed at the Anker Valley Tamworth Borough Council headquarter pitches in addition to a memorial bench.
"We thought it would be nice to fund a bench outside the changing rooms so that the lads who are still playing there can remember them," said Dik.
"The fund-raising we are doing now is part of a long-term goal to keep their memories alive. We would love to raise enough money to hold an annual event with a trophy to remember them by too.
"They played in our league from the age of seven so they have played with a lot of our members and touched a lot of hearts."
The league is now appealing for local businesses who feel that they can help give the memorial fund a boost to get in touch by emailing Dik on leaguesecretary@tjfl.co.uk Reported by This is 16 hours ago.