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Star remembered with annual match

Frank Wood
17/ 4/2008

TALENTED young footballer Scott Howatson will never be forgotten by the pals who played alongside him, or by future generations in his club.

The 19-year-old, of Torrington Street, Hopwood, died after an accident with a private hire car as he was crossing Manchester Road on 19 January.

The death of the popular teenager left many people devastated, not only among his family and close friends but also in amateur football circles where he was respected as an outstanding player.

His club, Roach Dynamos, described him as "a star who will never be forgotten" and now the club is making plans for an annual football match in his memory.

The idea is to stage The Scott Howatson Memorial Match at the end of every league season at some central pitch where a good turnout is guaranteed.

Scott’s soccer skills shone through while he was playing with the Roach Under-15s, so the plan is to have an under-15s’ team each year playing a team made up of coaches, managers and ex-managers.

"What we want is a friendly, light-hearted game where each generation of under-15s will remember Scott in years to come," said club chairman Gary Cain. "In the past, we have had memorial trophies for people we have lost, but we thought this would be a nicer way to remember Scott."

The managers’ side will be led by Scott’s dad, Mark, who is a former assistant manager with the Roach Under-15s.

Scott’s mum, Mandy, said she was very moved when she heard of the club’s plans. She said: "I think it will be a lovely way to remember Scott."

Roach press officer Phil Rostron said: "Scott was such a great lad and so popular that there are a lot of people who still haven’t got over his death. Everybody misses him."

A date has not yet been fixed for a full inquest but police say they have completed their inquiries into the tragedy.

Reports have been prepared for the coroner by accident investigation officers and a report has also gone to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who will decide whether the taxi driver should be prosecuted.

Police say their inquiries are now over, unless there is a last minute response to an appeal for the driver of a white car to come forward.

Immediately after the accident, police said they wanted to speak to the driver of a white vehicle which was travelling along Manchester Road in the direction of Middleton just before the accident. They emphasised that the driver was not implicated in any way but could provide vital clues to why the accident happened.

The time was around 10.30pm near the junction with Ormerod Street. The police traffic unit can be contacted on 0161 856 8473 or information can be left anonymously on the freephone Crimestoppers line, 0800 555 111.