Tomasz Oleszak: Football pitch for murdered teen granted funding

Tomasz Oleszak had been out playing football when he was stabbed on 3 October 2022

Funding towards a football pitch in memory of a murdered teenager has been granted, one year after his death.

Tomasz Oleszak, 14, suffered an 3in (8cm) wound to his chest in Whitehills Nature Park and died on 4 October 2022.

A vigil was held on Tuesday while a wreath was laid at Tomasz's former club, Gateshead Cleveland Hall.

The club said a new pitch, partly funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), would "celebrate Tomasz's legacy".

Tomasz had been out playing football when he was attacked by Leighton Amies on 3 October 2022.

Aimes, who was 14 at the time of the murder, was detained for at least 12 years.

Friends and family gathered at Springwell Community Centre on Tuesday to mark a year since Tomasz's death.

Lisa Loan said Tomasz's death was "still very raw" one year on

Lisa Loan, who organised the event, said his death was "still very raw" for those who knew him.

"I think people are finding it hard to believe it has actually been a year," she said.

"I don't know how you get over someone going like that."

Friends of Tomasz have urged other teenagers not to carry knives, one year after his death

Meanwhile Tomasz's friend, Frankie, urged his peers not to carry knives.

"It impacts someone else's life, your life, your family's life... just don't do it," he said.

Another friend, Lewis, said he "still missed Tomasz so much" and it was "so hard to take in".

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Tomasz played for the Under 15s at Cleveland Hall, who have raised more than £33,000 to support his family.

Northumbria PCC Kim McGuiness announced on Wednesday that she would grant £3,600 towards the development of a new 4G football pitch in his memory.

"We owe it to him to put all our effort into stopping kids carrying knives, stopping this devastation happening again," Ms McGuiness said.

A wreath was laid in Tomasz's memory at Cleveland Hall's grounds

Gateshead Cleveland Hall's club leader, Andrew Watling, said losing Tomasz "remains the most painful blow imaginable for a community club such as ours".

"He was a shining light and the nature of his death struck all of us extremely hard," he said.

Mr Watling said a new football facility would "celebrate his life and legacy" and "create a safe space for children and young people in Gateshead".