Steven Lennon Memorial Football Match0
neil posted in Travel on December 16th, 2006
An inter-estate football match was held today in memory of Edinburgh teenager Steven Lennon who was stabbed to death during gang violence on the 29th July 2005. Teams from Sighthill, Steven’s estate, and Dumbryden were formed to play this special match. A minutes silence preceeded the game.
Sightill looked stronger and had chances chances for a goal during the first half. Early in the second Jamie Barns had a Sighthill goal dissallowed.
Steven Noble opened the scoring for Dumbryden. Sighthill could find no coherent response to the first goal and conceeded a second minutes later. After that, Sighthill seemed to lose spirit and long for the final whistle. The spectators, mainly from Sighthill, could hardly watch as a third and fourth completed the rout.
The match had been organised by community beat officer Neil Doig in hopes of improving relations between neighbourhoods. After the match he read a short statement to the players about the dangers of knife crime and thanked the Scottish Executive and Heriot Watt for the facilities. Pc Doig’s message was especially apt as another seventeen year old was stabbed to death on friday night. Tracey Sole, Steven’s mother, presented the match trophy to Dumbryden captain Paul Suddaby. Sighthill captain Steven Stuart then presented Ms Sole with a football signed by all of the players and referee. The trophy will be kept at a local police station and can be viewed upon request.