A FOOTBALL club will hold a memorial tournament for one of its former members who was stabbed to death.

 

Elijah Dornelly, 17, was murdered in Walthamstow High Street on May 7.

 

He was a former pupil at Kelmscott Secondary School in Markhouse Road, Walthamstow, and played for Leyton Football Club last season.

 

Now the school and club have united to help his family pay for funeral costs.

 

Divine Omango, secretary of Leyton Football Club in Brisbane Road, Leyton, said: “We thought as a club and a community we should help raise money for his funeral costs.

 

“The point of the club is to provide these kids with a hobby to keep them off the streets. It’s to keep them away from that lifestyle of knife crime.

 

“The news of his death hit the people who knew him very hard. The club itself was devastated. When one of our own dies it is sad for us all.

 

“We will have teams from our league coming to play and also Elijah’s friends will play a match.”

 

The tournament will be held at Walthamstow Leisure Centre in Markhouse Road, Walthamstow, at 10am on Saturday, June 24.

 

There will be a minute’s silence to remember Elijah and club members will be invited to give speeches.

 

Entry is by donation and all proceeds will go to the Dornelly family.

 

A 17-year-old boy and an 18-year-old man are expected to stand trial later this year for Elijah’s murder.