Shoreham crash: Memorial walk money to aid young footballers

Hundreds of people took part in a memorial walk from Shoreham to Worthing on 12 September

Nearly £20,000 raised by a sponsored walk in memory of the victims of the Shoreham air disaster is to be used to support young footballers.

Worthing United players Jacob Schilt and Matthew Grimstone were among 11 people who died when the Hawker Hunter jet came down on the A27 on 22 August.

Hundreds of people walked from Shoreham to Worthing in September, representing the journey the pair would not finish.

The money was presented to Worthing United Youth FC on Sunday.

The two 23-year-old footballers had been travelling to a Worthing game when they were killed.

Mr Schilt was part of the fundraising team at the Robert Eaton Memorial Fund (REMF), which organised the walk.

Chairman of Worthing United Youth FC, Mark Sanderson, said: "This is an incredible amount of money raised by local people in memory of two Worthing United footballers.

"I would like to thank the REMF charity and everyone who has helped raise money in Matt and Jacob's names.

"This money will be wisely spent to make sure we offer our young footballers and coaches the best facilities and opportunities we can."

The victims:

(Top row, left to right) Matt Jones, Matthew Grimstone, Jacob Schilt, Maurice Abrahams, Richard Smith. (Bottom row, left to right) Mark Reeves, Tony Brightwell, Mark Trussler, Daniele Polito, Dylan Archer, Graham Mallinson

• Matt Jones, 24 - a personal trainer

• Daniele Polito, 23 - he was travelling in the same car as Mr Jones

• Matthew Grimstone, 23 - a Worthing United footballer who worked as a groundsman at Brighton & Hove Albion

• Jacob Schilt, 23 - a Worthing United player travelling to a match with Mr Grimstone

• Maurice Abrahams, 76 - a chauffeur on his way to pick up a bride on her wedding day

• Richard Smith, 26, and Dylan Archer, 42 - friends who were going for a bike ride on the South Downs

• Mark Reeves, 53 - he had taken his motorcycle to the perimeter of Shoreham Airport to take photos of the planes

• Tony Brightwell, 53, - an aircraft enthusiast who had learned to fly at Shoreham airfield

• Mark Trussler, 54 - thought to have been riding his motorcycle on the A27

• Graham Mallinson, 72 - a keen photographer and retired engineer