Emotional tribute to captain Phil

AN EMOTIONAL tribute was paid to Phil Hooper at Northfield last night. Vale Rec's Youth One captain died in a hit-and-run road accident on Fort Road in July.

His team-mates took to the field in shirts bearing the central midfielder's surname.

'Phil was a smashing young man who we're all going to miss,' said Vale Rec president Tony Blondel.

He added that it was fitting that the club's first match of the season was at North, as Phil had many friends at the club.

His Vale Rec teammates described him as a character.

'It's not just on the pitch where we'll miss him, but in the dressing room as well,' said 17-year-old Matt Chesters, who was playing centre forward on the night.

'He was cheeky, but he didn't mean anything by it.'

It was the side's first league game without their captain and one they all said was important.

Goalkeeper Kyle Carre, 17, said it was strange in the dressing room while right-back Phil Solway, 17, described Phil as a great all-round player who could score, create and work back as well.

Centre forward Adam Skinner, 17, said: 'All of this season is going to be important and we'll try to achieve success for him because that's what he would want.'

Phil played in number eight and the shirt will not be used by the Youth One team this season.

His parents, Alan and Jane, were presented with a number eight shirt after the match.

The Vale Rec squad members will keep the one-off kit, which was paid for by an anonymous donation.

And strong feelings at the Mariners Inn following Phil's death led to £500 being raised in 15 minutes.

Licensee Tina Ramsden, whose son played football with Phil at Vale Rec, organised the collection in the hope of pricking someone's conscience.

'This should not happen in Guernsey. We're supposed to be a close-knit little island and things like this don't happen,' she said.

'People in the pub felt really strongly that a young lad had his life taken away and nothing had been done.'

She has been in contact with the police liaison officer to find out what should be done with the money.

'I said I would treble whatever was in the bucket and within 15 minutes there was £150.'

Ms Ramsden attended Phil's funeral to represent her two sons and said it was a traumatic experience.

'There's a family that had their son taken away and a lot

of kids that have lost their friend and we don't want this to happen to another family,' she said.

'I just think maybe people in the island need to examine their conscience.'