Rebels mourn death of talented teenager
Football club’s emotional tribute to ‘excellent young player’ Christian Rowe
Arbour Park fell silent as Slough Town mourned the death of promising young footballer Christian Rowe on Tuesday evening, writes David Lee.
The talented Academy 23 defender died in a car crash on Wednesday, January 19 and his death was met with a huge outpouring of tributes from across the football community.
Rebels boss Jon Underwood described the 19-year-old as an excellent young player who had his life ahead of him.
He said in his programme notes ahead of Tuesday’s game with Billericay Town that it had been an ‘extremely difficult week for the club’, particularly the many young players Christian had played with.
The Academy 23 squad linked arms with Slough Town’s first team on the pitch for an impeccably observed minute’s silence before the game kicked off.
Once underway, the supporters inside Arbour Park then joined together for a moving minute’s applause in the 19th minute, the age Christian was when he died.
Boss Jon Underwood told the Express: “Tonight was emotional for everybody.
“Christian was an excellent young player with his life ahead of him and it’s desperately sad.
“It was an emotional night, it’s been an emotional weekend since we got the news and my heart goes out to the family.
“Hopefully they took some comfort from the love that the club showed him tonight.”
The Rebels boss said the promising young defender, who was due to turn 20 on Wednesday, had been on the verge of breaking into the first team earlier this season from Academy23.
Slough Town has been in partnership with the elite performance programme over the last two seasons with the aim of providing a pathway for talented youngsters into senior football.
But Christian suffered a hamstring injury and instead later went on loan to non-league side Binfield Football Club to gain valuable first team experience.
The Bracknell-based side paid tribute to the youngster after their victory at Guernsey on Wednesday night – posting on social media ‘That one was for you, Christian.’
Slough salvaged a late draw from an emotionally-charged evening at Arbour Park on Tuesday with joint-boss Underwood praising the players for their efforts in difficult circumstances.
He said: “Considering what we’ve been through the last week, hats off to the players for that.”