Hall named in memory of footy-mad Stephen

Stephen Jones was rushed to hospital when he collapsed during a 100m sprint at Sunnydale School, in Shildon, County Durham, in May.

The 11-year-old was kept in intensive care at Newcastle General Hospital and tragically, nine days later, he died.

Mother Susan Prince said: "He never woke up and there is still no explanation why, tests have been inconclusive.

"It has been an awful time for the family and we all miss him so much."

On Friday, the Jubilee Fields Community Centre, in Shildon, renamed its sports hall the Stephen Jones Hall in his memory.

Friends organised and took part in a memorial football match and plan to hold a tournament for the Stephen Jones Memorial Trophy each May to coincide with his birthday.

Play development worker, Carrie Barlow, said: "Stephen was a very active, popular and lively member of our junior club, he is greatly missed by all who knew him.

"We named the sports hall after him because he spent all of his time in there playing football with his friends and to mark the impact Stephen had on our lives."

School friends, teachers and local business have raised funds for a headstone reflecting his personality- which will feature his pet dog, a plaque from the school and his favourite football team Manchester United.

Miss Prince said the community's support and tributes have been a comfort to her and Stephen's dad, also Stephen Jones, and siblings- Shane, 18, Jay, 16, and Shannon, 11.

She said: "Buildings are usually named after celebrities and royalty, not normal kids like Stephen.

"It is lovely to know people thought so much of him.

"It means a lot to us all, he would have thought it was brilliant."

Sue Byrne, headteacher at Sunnydale, said: "Sadly Stephen was only with us a short time, his tragic loss shocked and saddened us all.

"He was a very lively, happy, sporty and enthusiastic pupil, he'd been elected house captain for sports in his form class."