THE family of two tragic Bolton Wanderers supporters, who were remembered in a minute's silence, have thanked thousands of fans for their touching tribute.

Soccer stars from Wanderers and Ipswich Town joined 19,000 supporters for the 60 second silence in memory of Martin and Matthew Hunt before Sunday's first leg crunch game at the Reebok Stadium.

And close family members were in the crowd, fighting back tears as the tragic dad and lad, who died in a car crash travelling back from last year's play-off match against the Suffolk team, were remembered.

Martin's father Len, and his brothers and sisters, Mandi, 28, Damion, 25, and Leon, 22, and aunty were all at the ground to take part in the specially-arranged silence.

And TV cameras beamed the emotional moment live to millions of satellite TV viewers, including Martin's mother Jennifer who watched from the family home in Tonbridge Place, Tonge Moor.

Mrs Hunt said: "We would just like to thank the club and everyone for the tribute. It was a very emotional time for us.

"The silence was impeccably upheld by everyone. My children who were there said no one said a word and there was no shouting.

"I watched it at home and we videotaped it. It was a very touching moment for us."

Wanderers officials confirmed late last week that a minute's silence would be held in memory of the father and son.

And at half-time Bolton fans applauded the 4,000 travelling Ipswich supporters who played their part in observing the silence.

Martin, 28, and his son Matthew, six, died in a motorway car crash just miles from their Middleton home last May as they returned from Wanderers' victorious away leg at Ipswich's Portman Road ground in the early hours of the morning.

Today Mandi, Damion and Leon were travelling to the ground for this year's Premiership play-off second leg -- a year to the day after Martin and Matthew died.