Match in memory of Daniel
The girlfriend of a talented young footballer who died in a drowning tragedy in Amsterdam joined family and friends as a tribute match was played in his honour.
Sam Hopkins was in the crowd of spectators who had gathered at Dyke House School in Hartlepool to see boyfriend Daniel Sirrell’s teammates take on his relatives in a friendly game of football.
The 20-year-old, from Peterlee, who played for Harton and Westoe FC in South Shields, lost his life after he fell into water, during a holiday with friends, and could not be saved.
The game had been organised to help raise funds to bring Daniel home after it transpired he was not insured.
The cash has since been raised. However, organiser Dan Hewiston, who worked with Daniel at McDonald’s in Hartlepool, decided to go ahead with the match, with money collected going towards his family to help give him the send off he deserves.
Watching the game alongside a crowd of spectators, his girlfriend Sam, from Peterlee, 19, said: “I can’t believe the support – it’s crazy. We never expected so many people to turn out. The support is unreal.
“When we were told what had happened it was such a shock as he had only gone away for one night. We were all expecting him home. It really was the worst day of my life.
“It’s lovely what everyone is doing for him. You can tell how much he was loved by everyone.”
The game kicked off following a minute’s applause in tribute to the left-winger, who had been part of Harton and Westoe FC for the past 18 months.
The game was played in two 45-minute halves with Harton and Westoe taking on Daniel’s friends for the first half, winning 4-0 before playing against a team from McDonalds, which they also won, 4-1.
Mr Hewitson said: “The match went really well and we raised just over £300 for his family.”
David Crumbie, manager of Harton and Westoe Miners Football Club, said: “We have plans to retire the number 11 shirt, which was Daniel’s number and have our homeshirts with #11 on the sleeves as a tribute to Daniel.”
“You can tell how much he was loved by everyone” SAM HOPKINS