Team's silent tribute for teenage hockey player killed in crash
A two minutes’ silence was held in tribute to hockey player Alex Lees despite blizzard conditions ahead of a match in which he had been due to play.
The 19-year-old was one of two young men who died when the motorcycle they were riding was in collision with a Rover car on Broadway West, in Walsall, last Tuesday.
Alex played on the wing for Wednesbury Hockey Club’s first team and his name was still on the team sheet for Saturday’s game at Willenhall E-Act Academy against Wulfrunians.
Before the match his No 7 team shirt was laid on the half-way line while his team mates, wearing black arm bands, lined up on the centre circle for the silent tribute.
They were joined by Alex’s parents Mike and Fiona Lees and grandparents Irene and Bill Griffiths, as well as club chairman-manager John Taylor.
Mr Lees said his son had played for the club since he was five.
“He grew up in the club and I loved coming to watch him play," Mr Lees said.
"We were very proud of him.
“We’ve been inundated with wonderful messages from players and former players who travelled to the club from far and wide after the game to speak to us, which has been a consolation to us.
"People have said such positive things about him. You know your son as a parent but it’s at times like this, when you hear other people’s reflections, that you fully realise what a really nice young man he was.”
Mr Lees said his son, a second-year engineering student at Sandwell College, had only had his motorbike for four months but was an experienced motocross rider.
He had finished his bar job at the Bloxwich Showman and was giving a lift home to childhood friend Tarik Campbell after picking him up following his shift at McDonald’s, near Bescot Stadium, when the collision occurred.
Mr Lees said: “Tarik was also a lovely person. Both families are united in our grief and supporting each other through this time."
