THE family of a young footballer killed in a car accident joined fans on the terraces to watch one of the oldest teams in the country play his side in a memorial match.

Margaret Hainsworth said she and her family were overwhelmed by the support from the footballing community after her son, Lee, was killed in a car accident, near Norton, Stockton, in February.

Mrs Hainsworth spoke after Notts County played Mr Hainsworth's team, Shildon, in County Durham, in a pre-season memorial game for the Lee Hainsworth Cup at Shildon's Dean Street ground.

She said: "We have been absolutely amazed at just how much people thought of Lee. We thought he was a member of a small family, but he was one of a massive family.

"His football mates loved him to bits and we cannot have asked for a better tribute than that. He was one in a million."

Defender Mr Hainsworth was part of the Shildon team that enjoyed a dream FA Cup run last year. The Albany Northern League side took on the then-Second Division Notts County at Meadow Lane.

A 7-2 defeat ended their FA Cup dream, but gained them respect, and the Notts County fans were among the first to rally round with messages of condolences when they heard of Mr Hainsworth's death.

Notts County club secretary Tony Cuthbert said: "It was nice to meet Lee's family. His tragic death seems even sadder when you hear what sort of life he had and what he was looking forward to.

"It was pleasing that the game at Meadow Lane last year was one of the highlights of his career. We feel privileged to be able to come to Shildon to pay tribute to him."

Mrs Hainsworth, her husband Dave and daughters Emma and Andrea, presented the visitors with the Lee Hainsworth Cup after they beat the Railwaymen 0-2.

She said: "Lee loved his football. He was happiest in his football strip and a pair of boots. He would have said that today was 'quality'."