Manchester United has paid a moving tribute to PC Matthew Blades, a dedicated police officer and lifelong fan who tragically lost his life in a head-on collision on the A66 near Middlesbrough on August 22.
The officer's two sons will walk out with the Manchester United team as mascots for Sunday's Premier League match against Ipswich at Old Trafford, accompanied by their mother.
Described by the club in their match programme as a proud Red and a devoted family man, PC Blades and his colleague PC Tom Clough both died when their police car was struck by a vehicle traveling the wrong way. Five occupants in the other car also died.
Tributes have poured in from across the football community, including a minute's applause at Middlesbrough and memorials at local clubs where PC Blades coached. Meanwhile, the police investigation has led to 24 arrests so far.
