The father of young footballer Tom Smith, who died after a match in Cambridge, has spoken of the “great comfort” his family found in messages of support.

Tom, 23, collapsed at Cherry Hinton recreation ground after a Sunday League game on October 2.

His dad Andy said: “Our loss has been so great it is difficult to find the words to say how grateful I am for all the help we have received.

“We would like to send out a deep and heartfelt thank-you to all those who have sent messages, letters and cards of condolences to the family. These messages of support have been a great comfort and a huge help to us all.”

Tottenham Hotspur fan Tom, a carpenter, lived in Cherry Hinton, and played for Fulbourn Sports Sunday.

He died after a Cambridgeshire Challenge Cup match, in which the central midfielder helped his team beat Cherry Hinton 5-3.

A memorial match was played at Histon’s Glassworld Stadium, between a Spurs Legends XI and Fulbourn Sports Sunday. There was also a half-time penalty competition for Tom’s former junior team, the Cherry Hinton Lions.

Cash raised in Tom’s honour was handed to his favourite charities, the Alzheimer’s Society and East Anglian Air Ambulance, before a Histon FC and Solihill Moors match on December 6.

The Fulbourn team’s manager Richard Chege said: “The memorial match was watched by a crowd of 1,000, and the Spurs players included Darren Anderton. Everyone is still very shocked about what happened to Tom.”

This article by Gareth McPherson appeared in the Cambridge News on December 16th.

A memorial football match was a “fitting tribute” to Fulbourn Sports player Tom Smith, who collapsed and died after a game last month.

More than 1,000 people turned out to watch Tottenham Hotspur Legends XI play Fulbourn Sports at the home of Histon FC, the Glass World Stadium, yesterday.

The 23-year-old was an avid Spurs fan and was in his sixth season playing for Fulbourn Sports when he collapsed and died after playing against Cherry Hinton on October 2 in the Cambridgeshire FA Challenge Cup.

Manager Richard Chege said: “The memorial match went very well. Tottenham won the game 5-1 but it was a very good day.

“I think we had about 1,000 through the turnstiles to support it.

“The air ambulance landed on the pitch before the match and it was fitting as they were the ones who came on the day to try and help Tom.

“It was a fitting tribute to Tom.”

The match raised thousands of pounds for the East Anglian Air Ambulance and Alzheimer’s, Tom’s family’s chosen charities

This article appeared in the Cambridge News on November 11th.

It was certainly a ‘funny old game’ of football when a driver stopped a train in Cambridge to throw back a ball.

A massive clearance by a goalkeeper on a football pitch next to the railway line sent the ball over safety fences and on to the tracks.

Players and spectators on Hills Road Sixth Form College football pitch watched as the train, instead of hurtling over the ball, came to a stop. Then the driver got out and returned the ball.

He was applauded during the match on Sunday between home team Cherry Hinton Lions Under-14s and Shelford and Stapleford Strikers Under-14s.

The pitch runs parallel to the Cambridge to London railway line and the incident happened at around 11.30am.

Dave Heron, chairman of Cherry Hinton Lions FC, said: “I was amazed. It was deep into the second half. I had just been talking about the number of balls lost because of the closeness of the touchline to the safety fence.

“Then a hurried clearance by a Cherry Hinton goalkeeper saw the ball lofted over the fence and onto the line, at the same time as a train was approaching slowly, as it headed towards Cambridge station.

“The train came to a stop and the driver walk onto the line, and fetched the ball. He threw it but it landed just in front of the fence. He walked into the undergrowth, picked up the ball and tossed it back on to the pitch.

“Players and spectators from both sides applauded and cheered his actions. The people on the train just looked on, probably wondering why it had stopped

“When he got back in his cab, he sounded his horn and set the train back in motion.”

Mr Heron praised the driver for his kindness. He said: “I just hope he doesn’t get in trouble but what a remarkable man.

“As chairman of Cherry Hinton Lions FC I would like to thank him for his kindness, it restores your faith in human nature.”

The incident does not seem to have been reported by the driver as neither National Express East Anglia nor First Capital Connect have any record of it.

This article was written by Raymond Brown and appeared in the Cambridge News on November 8th 2011.

We’re used to hearing about leaves on the line delaying trains. However on Sunday morning a football was the culprit just outside Cambridge.

Teams were playing in Cherry Hinton when one of them accidentally kicked it over the fence into the path of a slow moving train.

Then the train stopped, the driver got out and threw the ball back over the fence.

Spectator Dave Heron told Star Radio it was astonishing:

“When the ball came back over, all the players and all the spectators apppaluded and cheered him. He waved back and then climbed back in the cab, sounded his horn a couple of times and put the train back in motion again.

This article was published by Star Radio on November 8th 2011

A CAMBRIDGE United star has paid tribute to his former team-mate who died suddenly after playing a Sunday League football match.

Tom Smith, 23, collapsed and died after his team, Fulbourn Sports Sunday, had beaten Cherry Hinton Lions 5-3 in the first round of the Sunday Challenge Cup at Cherry Hinton recreation ground on Sunday.

Fulbourn Sports Sunday have cancelled both their team’s fixtures this weekend to honour Tom and will gather at Fulbourn Social Club at 11am to remember him.

Tom was substituted after 70 minutes then returned to the changing rooms and got changed before watching the rest of the game from the touchline. After the match the former Netherhall School pupil, who lived in Cherry Hinton, returned to the changing rooms with the rest of the team where he collapsed.

Paramedics arrived and gave the midfielder CPR but were unable to resuscitate him and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

U’s defender Josh Coulson, who grew up in Cambridge and also attended Netherhall School, used to play with Tom for Cherry Hinton Lions.

“He used to live a few doors down from me and I knew him really well,” he said.

“My mate was playing in the game against him on Sunday and he rang me up afterwards and told me what happened. He was only 23, young and healthy.

“He loved football. It just shows how short life can be.”

Flowers and cards have been left outside the changing rooms where he died.

One read: “Dear Smudge, RIP mate, will miss playing midfield with you. Never forget you, love Jordan.”

Another said: “Forever miss, brothers always. Love you, Shane + James.”

Tom’s parents said they wanted to thank everyone for the support they have had.

A post on a Facebook tribute page for Tom said he was “one of a kind”.

A spokesman for the Cambridgeshire FA said: “Our thoughts along with the football community are with Tom’s family and friends at this sad time.”

At 12.55pm on Sunday a minute silence will be held in the centre circle of the pitch in Fulbourn.

Team-mates have paid tribute to a “quietly brilliant” young man who collapsed and died after a Sunday League football match.

Tom Smith was collecting shirts to take home and wash following a game when he passed out.

His team, Fulbourn Sports Sunday, had just beaten Cherry Hinton Lions 5-3 to reach the second round of the Sunday Challenge Cup.

Despite the efforts of fellow players and paramedics to resuscitate him on Sunday, the 23-year-old never regained consciousness. He was taken to Addenbrooke’s by air ambulance but efforts to save him were called off after 2pm.

Richard Chege, who managed Tom for the past seven years at the Sunday League club and was in charge on the day at Cherry Hinton Recreation Ground, told the News that he was the last person to speak with the central midfielder.

The 29-year-old said: “He was helping clear up the changing rooms and offered to take the kit home to get it washed.

“And then he just went faint and slumped. It was so sudden.”

He added: “He was one of the nicest guys you could possibly meet – nobody had a bad word to say about him.

“He just wanted to play football all the time and was an integral part of the club. He was a dream to manage and a good friend.”

Mike Oliver played with Tom throughout his seven years at the Fulbourn team and spoke of Tom’s commitment to the club.

Mike, 28, from Cherry Hinton, said: “He was one of those people who wanted to play but always helped out too.

“He had such a professional attitude even at this lower level.

“The way we describe him is that he was quietly brilliant. His attitude set an example for everyone else.

“It was such a shock because he seemed fine.”

The team have postponed their next game this Sunday and will instead hold a gathering in honour of Tom where they plan to share memories – before they continue the season, equipped with black armbands.

Mike added: “The lasting impression from the club is that the place just won’t be the some without him.”

In his teenage years, Tom, a carpenter from Church End, Cherry Hinton, played for Netherhall Kitsonians at Netherhall School.

A spokesman for Cambridgeshire FA said: “The Cambridgeshire Football Association is sad to hear of the tragic death of Tom Smith after playing for Fulbourn Sports Sunday against Cherry Hinton on Sunday. “Our thoughts along with the Football Community are with Tom’s family and friends at this sad time.”

Tom leaves behind his mother, father, twin sister and older brother.

This article was written by Adam Luke and appeared in the Cambridge News on October 4th 2010.