Family of schoolboy stabbed to death in Sheffield march through city in emotional tribute

The family of a 15-year-old boy who was stabbed to death at his school in Sheffield led a march through the city to commemorate him.

Harvey Willgoose’s parents, Caroline and Mark Willgoose, held a banner as they marched from Sheffield town hall towards Sheffield United’s stadium in Bramall Lane on Saturday. Their son died on Monday after being stabbed at All Saints Catholic School in Granville Road in the city.

Hundreds of people joined the march, which was held both to remember Harvey and to spread an anti-knife crime message. Participants held banners which read “Lives not knives”. People were asked to wear red and white and some took balloons in the colour of Sheffield United’s kit.

Harvey was an avid supporter of the club and went to games with his friends. Marchers chanted “Goose Army” and “There’s only one Harvey Willgoose” in memory of the popular teenager.

The march was supported by Sheffield anti-knife crime charity Always An Alternative. Anthony Olaseinde, founder of the charity, was at the protest to “show support for the friends and family of Harvey”.

He called for action on knife crime in the UK. Mr Olaseinde told the PA news agency: “For those people that have got the power, it’s been going on for far too long and we’ve not seen enough action. We have had enough of your words, we want to see change.”

In the fifteenth minute of the Championship match against Portsmouth, fans clapped to commemorate Harvey, while his picture was shown on screens throughout the stadium. Football fans at West Bromwich’s stadium in Birmingham paid tribute in the same way when the Albion faced Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

Earlier, churches in the city held services to remember him. A mass was held at St Joseph’s church