A TOUCHING tribute has been held by a youth football team, paying respects to a member of the “football family” who tragically died last week.

Jordan Banks of Blackpool was tragically killed when he was struck by lightning on a football field last Tuesday.

The Liverpool FC fan’s sudden death has touched many involved in football across the country.

Cleator Moor Celtic FC held a special tribute to the young footballer, showing support to his family before one of their games on Sunday.

The under eights team held a minute’s silence for their fellow member of the football family before letting off balloons on the pitch.

Players wore an orange and black sock and let off orange balloons – the colours of Blackpool FC.

Under eights coach Darren Richardson said: “When anything like this happens all clubs hold a minute’s silence. It had been requested by West Cumbria Youth League and Cumbria FA.

“We’ve always done minute silences and we got together and said ‘how can we do something a little bit different?’.”

But coaches wanted to do something different to show their support to Jordan’s family.

Richardson said: “We take it for granted – you take the kids training but you never expect expect that someone isn’t going to come home.

“It touched a lot of the kids and a lot of the parents.”

Coaches look to instil the right attitude in their youngsters, as well as teach them football skills.

He said: “It’s not just preparing them for playing football, it’s preparing them for going out into the community as well.”

Mr Richardson was proud of the empathy shown by his youngsters who “knew what we were doing it for and what it meant”.

He added that it was a moving moment for players and their parents when the silence was held and balloons carrying Blackpool’s colours were released.

Richardson said: “Once we got the kids set up and went into the minute’s silence it dawned on them and there were a few teary eyes.”

The event was held in line with the coaches’ message.

“We’re always looking to try something different and offer them something different, fun and engaging away from the football as well.”

Whitehaven AFC’s under nines boys and girls team also took part in a minutes’ silence for Jordan on Saturday with their opponents for the day, Whitehaven Miners, Seaton Juniors and Maryport.