A big crowd turned up to an emotional night held on the first anniversary of the tragic death of a young West Bridgford man.
Tom Maccabee was killed in Malaysia on December 21 2014, where he had been working for a cancer charity.
He had been due to fly home for Christmas shortly after the car he was a passenger in crashed in a tunnel. He was 22.
On Monday night his former football club, West Bridgford Colts, held a memorial tournament in his honour and unveiled a new stand bearing his name.
Hundreds of people turned up to share memories and support Tom’s family.
His life was always very positive
His dad Tim Maccabee said: “I think it’s a night to take something positive from what happened a year ago and to provide a legacy from tom passing away. His life was always very positive, he was one of the most positive young men in the world.”
Tom was a passionate footballer and the night proved so popular it ended up hosting four teams in tournament instead of just two as first planned.
All of the night’s proceeds will go to a memorial fund in Tom’s name which the family plan to give to developing football projects around the world.
Picture: Tom’s newly-named stand was packed out for the night at West Bridgford Colts in Regatta Way
His mum Debbie said: “I remember the one evening, the rain was pouring down and I said to him ‘you’re not going to play football tonight’.
“He’d have been about 17, and he said ‘mum do you know it’s my life, I love football, and I don’t care how cold it is’ and he made me laugh, he was so passionate about it.”
