Wanderers pay tribute to tragic teens

7:59pm Sunday 9th December 2007

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WANDERERS fans and players paid their respects to two Bolton School sixth-form students killed in a car crash.

Flags flew at half mast at the Reebok Stadium, where Wanderers met Wigan Athletic in the day's big Premiership derby.

And players and supporters of both teams joined in a minute's applause in tribute to 17-year-olds Daniel Harrison and Jonathan Sharples, who were killed when their car smashed into a tree in Old Kiln Lane, Heaton, on Wednesday.

The close friends both had part-time jobs at the stadium, working for the hospitality team in the Chairman's Suite on matchdays.

Whites players wore black armbands and, in a moving tribute, five friends of the boys - who were both keen sports enthusiasts - laid flowers behind the goal at the South Stand end of the ground.

They were accompanied by Wanderers' club chaplain, Phil Mason.

Rev Mason said: "Because Daniel and Jonathan both worked here part-time and lost their lives in such tragic circumstances, we felt it was very important that as a club we showed our support, care and concern for all the families.

"We strive to be very much a family club and that means supporting people during the highs and lows of life."

Dozens of floral and written tributes to A-level students Daniel, of Old Kiln Lane, Heaton, and Jonathan, of Lazonby Avenue, Aspull, have been left close to the spot where the Ford Ka they were travelling in left the road and struck the tree.

They were understood to have been travelling to school for rugby practice when the accident happened.

Weekend sports fixtures involving Bolton School teams were cancelled as a mark of respect, while a book of condolence is being opened by the school and a private memorial to the two friends is being planned.