Memorial match held for Shoreham air crash victims

A memorial football match has taken place to mark the 10th anniversary of two men killed in the Shoreham air crash.

Worthing United FC players Jacob Schilt and Matthew Grimstone had been on their way to a game when a Hawker Hunter jet crashed on the A27 during the Shoreham Air Show in August 2015.

The two 23-year-olds were among 11 men who lost their lives in the incident, which also left another 13 people injured.

Monday's match in their honour took place between the pair's former primary schools in Brighton and Hove.

Matt Evans is a higher level teaching assistant and football coach at Balfour Primary, which is Matthew Grimstone's old school.

He explained the importance of their now annual clash against Patcham Primary, which Jacob Schilt attended.

"A memorial match between Balfour and Patcham has taken place every year since the crash happened and I think it's great that Matt and Jacob's legacy and positivity gets to live on through the children," he said.

First team coach at Worthing United when disaster struck he recalled the impact the pair's death had on the team.

"I was waiting for them at the ground on that day in 2015 but they never arrived," he said.

"That feeling of mourning was unlike anything I've ever experienced and we still miss them to this day."

Also on the side lines at Monday's game was Jacob's mother Caroline Schilt who said she thought it was "so lovely that the two schools want to keep the memory of Matthew and Jacob alive".

Matthew's aunt Pauline Grimstone added that he would have been very happy with the result of the match which saw Balfour come out on top.

"He will have been watching and thinking 'well done boys', " she said.

"It was a good game."

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