Pictures of Tomasz Oleszak tribute match in Birtley

Students at Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy in Birlet, near Chester-le-Street, staged the event with help from their P.E. teacher, Liam Cumiskey, to honour Tomasz Oleszak, 14, who tragically lost his life to knife crime in October of last year.

Parents, students, and family were all present to watch on as some of Tomasz friends at the school kicked off in the colours of Newcastle United, his favourite team, in a match which looked to raise awareness for knife crime.

Read more: Tomasz Oleszak: Gateshead teen honoured at Lord Lawson memorial match

The event sold over 300 tickets and raised close to £800 for knife crime charities such as Samantha's Legacy.

Tomasz had friends he had grown up with at Lord Lawson of Beamish, and Mr Cumiskey said the children were desperate to honour their friend.

Before kick-off, those present took part in a minute's silence in tribute to Tomasz, while his family were presented with flowers to commemorate their son.

Staff, pupils, and onlookers applauded on the 14th minute mark of the game to highlight the age he lost his life.

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Speaking on the match, Tomasz' mother, Kamilla, said: “I'm so excited about the match, I can't wait for it and it's comforting me and cheering me up that Tomasz’s friends still want to celebrate his life and stand against knife crime.

"You know good people attract good people and all that is just a reflection of the person Tomasz was.

"It's heartbreaking that it is all for him and he cannot be with us because I know he would love to be that much [of a] popular and loved person.”