HARTLEPOOL United fans paid tribute to the son of a former player who was killed in a road accident last week.

There was a minute's applause after 14 minutes of the game with Luton at Victoria Park on Saturday in memory of Rhys Hewitt, a 14-year-old season ticket holder who died this week after being struck by a car.

The teenager was the son of Marty Hewitt, who played for the club in the 1980s and was a well known Northern League player.

Rhys' schoolfriends were in attendance along with members of his family, including his father and about three to four hundred youngsters chanted his name throughout the match and blue and white balloons were released in his memory.

Rhys was walking near a bus depot on Brenda Road in Hartlepool at about 7pm on Wednesday when he was involved in a collision with a black Vauxhall Corsa.

The teenager was also remembered at non-league and youth football matches across Hartlepool, but no-where more so than at his former club, Hartlepool Pools Youth Under 15s. More than 200 youngsters attended the match alongside Rhys' father who was presented with his son's shirt.

Club chairman, Gary Thomson, who was Rhys' coach, said he talked to Rhys' teammates on Thursday night to see if they still wanted to play. "There were a lot tears, but they all wanted to play in Rhys' memory.

"We had a minute's silence before the game and at 14 minutes we stopped for applause. It was very moving. The team has only been together for three months and it takes a very special person, as Rhys was, to have that kind of impact on so many people."

The scene of the accident has been turned into a shrine to the English Martyrs School pupil, with flowers and Newcastle United shirts and black and white balloons left in reference to Rhys' 'other' team.

A collection is being held so a permanent memorial can be left to the popular youngster. So far £1,750 has been raised from 118 people at gofundme.com/fyk8sc

At Saturday's game with Luton, Pools fans also saluted former midfielder Michael Maidens with a round of applause on the 25th minute - Maiden's wore the No 25 shirt.

It is seven years since Maidens was killed in a road accident.