Charity match for PCs killed in crash raises £10k

5 hours ago

Evie LakeNorth East and Cumbria

PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough were killed in the A66 collision on 22 August

Cleveland Police Pictures of the two officers. Both are smiling. PC Blades, left, has stubble and short fair hair. He is wearing a white shirt with an open collar which can just about be seen. PC Clough also has stubble and short dark hair and is wearing a black top. — PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough were killed in the A66 collision on 22 August

A football match hosted in memory of two police officers killed in a crash has raised more than £10,000 for charity.

PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, died when a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way down the A66, near Middlesbrough, crashed into their marked police car on 22 August. Five young men in the Passat also died.

Middlesbrough FC hosted about 1,000 staff from Cleveland Police and their loved ones at the Riverside Stadium on Sunday, for the inaugural Blades and Clough Cup.

The two teams were supported by Boro players Craig Hignett and Dimi Konstantopoulos.

The teams, Matrix XI and Cleveland Police Veterans FC, walked out with mascots from FC Hartlepool's under 10s, a team PC Blades used to coach.

Cleveland Police said the two sons of PC Blades were substituted on to play in the match. Both added their names to the scoresheet.

The match took place at the Riverside Stadium on Sunday

Cleveland Police Two teams, one in red on the left and another in blue on the right standing around the centre of the Riverside football pitch in a circle. They are facing inwards and clapping. There is an empty stand behind them with red chairs, some are white and spell out MFC. — The match took place at the Riverside Stadium on Sunday

The match ended 5-2 to the Cleveland Police Veterans FC.

Supt Daryll Tomlinson, who organised the event, said: "The Blades and Clough Cup was about remembering two great colleagues, two much-loved friends, and two people who shared a genuine passion for football.

"Their memories continue to bring people together through football and friendship and this special event was a fitting testament to them both."

A total of £10,455 was raised for the charity Care of Police Survivors, which supports the families of those who lost their lives on duty.

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