Reds’ salute to Taylor
A LITTLE boy killed by a speeding hitand-run driver will be honoured by his beloved United this weekend.
Taylor Schofield, 11, died after he was mowed down as he crossed the street in Beswick on his bike last month.
Now a beautiful poem entitled ‘Our Manchester Son,’ penned in Taylor’s honour by his uncle’s friend Mike Fernandez, will appear in the match programme for the club’s Premier League clash with Liverpool on Sunday.
Mike was inspired to write the poem after seeing the pain Taylor’s loved ones were going through at the youngster’s wake.
He approached the club to ask if it could be printed in the programme, and was thrilled when they agreed.
It will appear alongside a photo of the Droylsden Academy pupil, who was an avid United fan.
Mike, 50, from Droylsden, has been close friends with Taylor’s uncle Dave Nuttall for years, and his daughter Diya was in the same class at school as Taylor. He was determined to do something to support the family.
He said: “I was at the wake and there was an outpouring of love and sadness.
“I’m a City fan, but Taylor was a devoted Red and so is his dad, so I went to Manchester United and they were really good about it. This is something that transcends football.
“To see the family at the wake, I’ve got two children myself and it could have so easily been them.
“The family are happy about it. They have been devastated by what’s happened, so at least this is something nice for them.”
Taylor’s family should have been celebrating his 12th birthday earlier this week. Instead, they were in Manchester Crown Court to see Michael Robinson, 31, sentenced to six years and eight months behind bars for fatally mowing down Taylor.
Some of those who were close to Taylor will be at Old Trafford on Sunday, while the club is also arranging to have copies of the special programme sent to his family.
Mike added: “I think Taylor would have been well chuffed to see himself in the programme, especially against Liverpool, so let’s just hope he’s looking down with a smile on his face.”