Sheffield United fans pay poignant tribute to teenager stabbed to death

Sky News

Sheffield United fans pay poignant tribute to teenager stabbed to death

richard

08/02/2025

Sheffield United fans pay poignant tribute to teenager stabbed to death

Hundreds of people have attended a march in memory of a 15-year-old boy stabbed to death at his school – ahead of a tribute by his football club, Sheffield United.

Harvey Willgoose died on Monday after he was attacked at All Saints Catholic School in the city.

Dozens of people have left flowers and messages outside the school since his death.

Harvey was an avid Sheffield United fan and football shirts, scarves and messages have been left for him outside the stadium in the city.

One message written on a Sheffield United shirt reads: “RIP Harvey. Forever in our hearts.”

Harvey’s friends joined Sheffield United supporters and others affected by his death at Sheffield Town Hall to march to the ground ahead of the match against Portsmouth at 3pm on Saturday.

One black and white banner with a picture of Harvey inside the Sheffield United logo read: “Lives not knives. It’s not OK.”

The march was supported by Sheffield anti-knife crime charity Always An Alternative.

At the game, play was stopped and applause broke out in the 15th minute, as fans and players paid tribute.

Fans also stopped for a similar tribute at West Bromwich Albion’s ground The Hawthorns for their game against Sheffield Wednesday.

Earlier on Saturday churches in the city held services to commemorate the teenager.

Mark McManus, the parish priest at St Joseph’s church in Handsworth, Sheffield, said: “Harvey was a former pupil of St Joseph’s Academy and, along with the members of our community who attend All Saints High School, many will have been affected by his death – some very closely.”

In a statement released by police, Harvey’s family said their lives would “never be the same again” and they were “utterly heartbroken”.

Paying tribute, Harvey’s sister Sophie Willgoose said: “My heart is broken into a million pieces.”

A 15-year-old boy charged with murdering Harvey has been remanded into youth detention accommodation.

The defendant, who cannot be named because of his age, appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on Thursday charged with murder, possession of a bladed article and affray.

A trial date has been fixed for 30 June.

Rivalries set aside for a football mad teen

by Charlotte Leeming, north of England correspondent
For Harvey Willgoose’s family his death at just 15 years old is a deeply personal tragedy but in the days since he died there’s been a very public show of support.

His family attended a special mass this morning at a Catholic Church not far from where he went to primary school. It was a service to commemorate his life and people of all ages packed into the building to remember him.

Then just hours after that poignant and personal church service, Harvey’s parents and sister attended a very public memorial march through Sheffield. Hundreds gathered together, to make a stand against knife crime. Holding a huge banner with Harvey’s face in it and the words “lives not knives”.

Many in the crowd held balloons in the red and white colours of Harvey’s beloved Sheffield United. They marched to the Bramall Lane ground where Harvey spent many of his weekends, his parents and sister leading the way.

Accompanied by loud chants of “there’s only one Harvey Willgoose”, his mum, Caroline, said the turnout was “amazing” and the support shown by the community was “helping me get through it”

Many of Harvey’s friends were also there, some were overwhelmed by the occasion, crying openly and hugging one another for support. His friend Ruby told me Harvey was a loving and caring boy who did a lot for the community.

Harvey’s death is being felt right across this city. One dad who was there was with his 9 year old son, said the whole of Sheffield has felt numb and sad since Harvey died. He added that he hugged his son a lot tighter on Monday night.

And then at Bramall Lane a minutes applause was held in the 15th minute of United’s game against Portsmouth. All rivalries set aside, as the stadium paid tribute to a football mad teenager in one of his favourite places.

Rivalries set aside for a football mad teen

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