Four young boys drowned after plunging into an icy lake, and football fans in the West Midlands are paying respect to their memory at matches throughout the region.
A minute of silence was observed at the Friday night encounter between Birmingham City and Reading, and similar arrangements are in place for Saturday’s matches.
During their match, Blues players and staff also wore black armbands.
Four young boys, ages six, eight, ten, and eleven, drowned in Babbs Mill Park near Solihull after falling into the water.
Sunday, Finlay Butler, 8, his cousin Thomas Stewart, 11, and Jack Johnson, 10, passed away in a hospital.
The death of Finley’s six-year-old sibling Samuel was verified by authorities on Wednesday.
Throughout the week, football players including Tyrone Mings and his Aston Villa teammate John McGinn laid flowers at the location.
John Eustace, the head coach of Birmingham City, also laid a floral wreath on behalf of the club.
West Bromwich Albion will observe the fatalities in the fourth minute of their Saturday match against Rotherham United, while Birmingham City Women will do the same when they visit London City Lionesses.
Solihull Moors Football Club stated that the following two home games would be used to collect funds for the affected families.
On Saturday at 16:00 GMT, there will be a vigil for the boys, and many people are anticipated to attend.
Rev. Mandy Harris stated that the local St. Barnabas Anglican Church will be available at the same time “for anyone who wishes to pay their private homage.”
The fatalities will also be commemorated on Sunday at the church’s annual Christmas musical.
She stated, “There is no way we could stand and sing carols when the deaths of the lads would weigh so heavily on the heart.
She said that there will be a moment of silence, prayers uttered, and a candlelit.
Email Kerekes, the senior pastor of the Connection Church in Kingshurst, described the local community’s sentiment as a “heartbroken spirit.”
“Once the vigil is ended, we can gradually move towards peace and calm, and we will determine how best to assist the families and the community,” he said.
Pubs donated more than £4,000 in cash, which was initially intended for a Christmas toy drive, to help support the families of the boys.
Their fundraising website has raised tens of thousands of dollars.
Sharon Doyle, the event’s organizer, wrote that the global community’s generosity had been “simply astounding.”
“On behalf of the families of the four boys, I would like to thank every one of you for your kind and compassionate remarks, donations, and words of love,” she said.
