Mum of footballer who died in boat accident thanks friends for organising memorial match
The mother of a footballer who died in a boat accident in January has thanked his friends for organising a fundraising football match in his memory on Sunday.
Kelly Griffiths, 47, from Brockley, joined family and friends at the Ladywell Arena in Silvermere Road, Catford, to remember her son, Anton Walkes who died at the age of 25.
Mr Walkes was a Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth defender. He also represented Charlotte FC in the 2022 Major League Soccer season.
His school friends Callum Dawes and Nick Harvey organised the event. They had known Mr Walkes since they were eight years old, attending Prendergast Ladywell school in Manwood Road, Honor Oak together.
Ms Griffiths said: “It was very hard, but it was nice to see his friends. They are lovely young men and I’m so proud of them.
“I want to thank Callum, Nick and his girlfriend Charlotte for organising it all.”
Mr Walkes died after he was involved in a boat crash near Miami while he was staying in Florida for a pre-season training camp with his American team, Charlotte FC.
Ms Griffiths attended the memorial with her two children, Alarna Walkes, 15, and Anderson Walkes, 11, as well as Anton’s dad, Lee Walkes.
She said: “It was really nice for the kids, my little boy scored a goal and it was brilliant. I told him, ‘you scored that for your brother’.”
S Factor Athletics Academy, based at the Ladywell Arena, offered the grounds to be used for the memorial for free.
Ms Griffiths said: “I wanted to thank Lisa Miller from S Factor Athletics for giving us the arena for free. It was lovely.
“Anton used to do athletics there and they told me the 1,500 metre record he broke in 2011 and 2013 has only just been beaten this year.
“And I want to thank Josh Franklin from London Youth Events for supplying the music for the day. I just want to thank the community.
“It was a lovely turnout under the circumstances and it’s so nice that everyone can come together like this.”
The money raised from the football fundraiser will go towards a go fund me page set up for Mr Walkes which has received £7,000 so far.
Ms Griffiths said: “We are trying to build a legacy for him, we might set up a football team in his name, we haven’t decided yet but it will go to a good cause.”
To donate to Mr Walkes legacy visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory-of-anton-walkes
Pictured top: Anton Walkes makes an appearance for Spurs in 2016 (Picture: PA)
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